Natalie Ho

It’s been some time since I did a round up of my seasonal beauty favourites! Oh boy, I’ve been trying a lot of different beauty and makeup products just in time for the start of Fall and it was so hard to select a handful to share with you!

The products I’m sharing today are primarily brand new products I’ve never tried before and I’m so glad to find so many that I’ve fallen in love with in such a short period of time! For Fall, I’m most excited and focused on creating rich and dramatic beauty looks and looking forward to leaving shimmery bronzers and shades of pink behind.

Keep reading to see my beauty and makeup hit list for Fall 2016!

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Hi guys! So sorry for the silence last week, life just caught up on me and I had to take a break in between all the events! Back today with a super short post, but promise more to come this week! Victoria (from The Lust Listt) and I, alongside with a handful of beautiful influencers participated in Diesel’s 2016 fall campaign. We were given 49 rules of successful living to choose from and was asked to showcase which one particularly stood out and represented each one of us personally.

I partnered with Joe Fresh, to come up with stylish takes on the classic monogram. Come try them out at the  Queen + Portland store in Toronto during the month of September, where you can custom monogram your Joe Fresh purchase for $5.

I love stocking up on basics for Fall. I gravitate towards solids and richer colours and look for transitional pieces that match the changing weather. Layering a classic denim jacket over a T-shirt, or sporting a midi shirtdress paired with a wide brim fedora, are two of my go-to looks for the season.

As a DIY enthusiast, I’ve always enjoyed adding personalized details to my wardrobe, especially when it comes to basics. It’s my way of exercising my inner creative flare—such as with monograms.

Read further to see my custom monogram designs from Joe Fresh!

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Dairy. It’s an ongoing love/hate relationship for me.

Being moderately lactose intolerant, I’ve always struggled to enjoy dairy freely whenever I want. I’m likely luckier than some, where I can have limited amounts dairy and not be affected but where I am able, I would prefer a lactose free option. Though I’m glad to see many coffee shops and cafes have lactose free options now, I do still come across a few spots in the city that don’t.

When Natrel announced the launch of their new line of lactose free products in a single-serve format, I was giddy with joy. I no longer need to lug over my own carton of milk to a friend’s to enjoy my cup of après dinner coffee. I can now enjoy all the fresh taste of milk, without the discomfort.

See what recipe Natrel’s new launch inspired me to make!

Happy hump day! I love it when long weekends give you an extra day off, it sure makes the week go by faster! With TIFF and the opening of Nordstrom in Toronto coming up, there are so many events and parties to attend next couple of weeks! I spent this past last long weekend of the summer meandering around the city with hardly any plans in mind, enjoying cups of coffee and cool bevvies on patios. It was a great way for me to recharge before the crazy hectic days to come!

With fall around the corner, I’m already planning out my transitional outfits. These perforated leather heels from shoeME.ca made a recent appearance as I know that they’re going to be a staple item for the start of fall. I paired them a casual t-shirt, a summer lace skirt and added the most coveted accessory of this season, a leather choker to give it a feminine yet, edgy style. I love the soft grey tone of these block heels as they are perfect for transitioning the lighter summer palette into the richness of fall.

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I can’t believe it’s September! September acts as a reminder that the cooler months are approaching, and that in no time the Fall season and the great things that come along with it (i.e. warm apple pies, hot cocoa, and cable knit sweaters) will be upon us. As much as I enjoy the beautiful colours and coziness of Fall, a part of me is just not quite ready for the Summer to end.

To hold onto the heat for just a little bit longer, I decided to stir up this refreshing Iced Mint Coffee beverage to celebrate the last days of Summer with NESPRESSO’s two new limited edition capsules infused with the sweet flavours of Strawberry Mint leaves harvested from my potted herb garden.

Read more for this simple recipe and learn more about the NESPRESSO Limited Edition capsules.

It’s been a dream of mine to open up a flower shop cafe. Though, it’s unlikely I can make that happen this lifetime, but I’m so thrilled to say that some talented friends of mine are living my dream! Last weekend, I visited my dear friend (and florist) Sarah of DeLight Floral + Design at her newest retail location within Arvo Coffee nestled in the beautiful Toronto Distillery District. Those of you who have been following along will know that I am a huge fan of Sarah’s work and she also designed all my floral arrangements at our wedding last year. If you’re looking for a beautiful place to enjoy a cup of coffee, I urge you to pay a visit!

I’ve been meaning to share my kitchen renovation experience with you for quite some time now! Those of you who follow along on Instagram have seen a few teaser photos, and thank you for all the generous comments! Renovating a kitchen can be an extremely daunting, and it is true when people tell you that you WILL likely go over budget and you WILL likely exceed your original timelines. The best way to handle potential stress is to anticipate and be open to these changes.

I was thrilled when The Comfortable House invited me to to share a glimpse of our new, beloved space.

Read further for five worthwhile tips to get you started on your future kitchen projects!

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I rarely attempt to wear electric colour makeup (with the exception of a fuchsia pink lip from time to time) because let’s face it electric blue, green, and purple remind me just too much of tacky 80’s music videos! During my trip out west with Shopper’s Drug Mart Beauty Boutique team earlier this month, I was encouraged to try my “beauty never”, the results were unexpected and I was extremely pleased!

Read further to see what my “beauty never” is and how to recreate it!

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I’ve always been a fan of Gladiator style sandals. I remember when I visited Greece last year, I saw a huge variety of styles. Athens and Santorini offered styles that reminded me of ancient Greece meanwhile, on the swanky island of Mykonos, boutiques were carrying sandals that were embellished with colour beading, fringes, pom pom trims, and tassels.

I’ve been seeing a variety of embellished styles pop up all over Instagram, most of them, designed and decorated by talented artists and fashionistas. So naturally, I had to attempt a pair myself. I picked up these gold Gladiator Sandals from LE CHATEAU last month and finally had the chance to embellish them!

Read further to see what items I used to make these DIY Tasseled Gladiator Sandals..