Natalie Ho

Do you change up your skincare routine during the harsh winter months? What about your diet? Do you consume foods that will help you nourish your skin? Well, if you’re not already doing so, think twice!

During the cold months while you’re exposing your skin to the chill air and gusty winds, your skin can experience increased dryness, redness, and dehydration. It’s so important to modify your skincare products so that they can help you battle those challenges!

In addition to stocking up your vanity with some supercharged items, it’s also a great time to add some extra wholesome and hydrating items to your diet to combat winter skin inside and out!

Read further to learn about some of my newly-added Winter Skincare and Beverage Pairings from Shoppers Drug Mart and President’s Choice!

I was super stoked when I found these pink velvet boots at ZARA. I had been contemplating for awhile but was a little gun shy on making the move because let’s face it, pink and velvet is anything but typically when it comes to choice in footwear. I was afraid that they would be a challenge to pair an outfit with and also unsure about how the material would hold up. I mean we’re in the midst of winter after all!

Last week I was invited by Sunkist to join them on a sensory experience at Planta. I love citrus fruits and ever since I was a little girl, Sunkist has always made its way into our family kitchen. My parents made a habit to serve us fruits after dinner, and urged that oranges were among the best, primarily due to its incredible source of vitamin C. Though eating a freshly peeled Sunkist orange is super delicious, I was so thrilled to learn at the Senses Event last week that there are so many more great ways to put citrus to use.

From fancy cocktails, delightful dishes, to natural beauty regimens, I’ll definitely be incorporating citrus fruits as part of my routine to re-energize and invigorate my body, mind, and soul this winter season! I also learned that the combination of lemons and oranges make the best all natural fragrance and was inspired by Sunkist and wellness expert, Abbey Sharp to try this air freshener recipe.

Aging is scary. I remembered when I turned 30 a few years ago, I had this overwhelming feeling or uneasiness. I was overwhelmed by the fact that I was approaching a new decade and a new era of added responsibilities.  I was also worried about the anticipated changes to my skin and my body. The fact that I started to see a few strands of silver in my hair, fine lines that appeared around my eyes when I laughed, and accepting the reality that my jeans and bras just didn’t quite ‘fill in’ the same anymore. Basically, I was freaking myself out!

I love using Sharpie markers in my DIY projects. They are so versatile and come in so many different colours, felt tip sizes, and can be drawn on countless materials and surfaces. With the fresh start of 2017, I’ve got my mind on setting goals and planning out the projects and accomplishments I want to tackle this year. My home office is where I get a lot of head-down work done but it’s also where I’m most inspired.

To kick off the year, I thought it’d be the perfect time customize some new notepads and desk accessories with the help of the limited-edition Sharpie Color Burst Permanent Markers. I used a simple watercolour technique with the Sharpie markers and the results were fabulous!

I’m so glad that I finally managed to meet up with my photographer friend, Aminaz of Love Over Lenses over the past weekend to shoot these fun photos! I spent so much time in December working on holiday DIY posts that I really missed putting together outfits and sharing them with you guys!

As much as I prefer to be behind the scenes, many of you really enjoy it when I post photos of me via Instagram (who knew?!). So as part of my 2017 content strategy, I’ll be integrating more fashion and outfit posts, I hope you guys will like it! And as always, I really really appreciate all your support!

When it comes to food and drink, such as meats, cheeses, wine, and whiskey, we’ve all experienced the wonders that the aged or vintage option has to offer. I’ve always been drawn to the vintage section of the liquor or foods store, where the world’s finest wines and cured meats are displayed. These aged items often have a wonderful story behind them, it’s like bringing a bit of history home to enjoy.

As familiar as I am to the world of vintages in food and drink, I’ve not yet experienced aged coffee and that’s why I’m so pleased to share that for the first time Nespresso has released SELECTION VINTAGE 2014, a limited edition collection Arabica coffee that was harvested three years ago. Due to the aging process, this coffee exhibits a complex taste with tinges of woodiness, fruity notes, and an incredibly decadent velvety texture.

Apple pie and oatmeal. Two of my favourite comfort food items, especially during these colder months. I’m always looking for fun and delicious ways to dress up a bowl of healthy oatmeal and the other day, while I was craving for a warm apple pie after dinner, it dawned on me that I can curb my dessert cravings in the morning, by combining these two delicious items! I had plenty of apples in the kitchen and luckily I also had all the ingredients needed for the apple pie filling already tucked away in the pantry – the stars were aligned!

Keep reading to see how you can easily make this Warm Apple Pie Oatmeal in just minutes!

Hello world! I’ve been on a blogging break and so happy to be back today! I had originally planned to post last week but then got hit with a flu literally on the last day of 2016, I finally feel like myself again and ready to tackle the new year!

As I started to plan my 2017 blog goals list, I sifted through a bunch of stats and data to see what I should be focusing my efforts on. Naturally, I studied my Pinterest account to see what you guys loved most! I was so surprised to see that some of my posts have received tens of thousands of pins!

Now that Christmas is over, what can you possibly do with all the leftover candy canes?! Sprinkle them over your favourite coffee cocktail for an elevated touch! Kyle and I are spending the next few days up north with a friends to ring in the New Year, nothing beats a hot beverage after a day on the slopes or by the fire, and when the coffee is as good as NESPRESSO‘s combined with the creamy flavour of Irish Liqueur, well all I can say is that life is good!