Natalie Ho

Happy Friday!! The beauty of having an office with a rooftop terrace is that you can take a break and enjoy a breath of fresh air despite a super busy day. We recently moved offices and it was incredible that we were able to find a building with an exclusive outdoor terrace space just for us! Every Friday, we all get together and enjoy a few casual drinks on the top floor. Ever since we started LOGiQ3, company culture was a priority. “Patio Fridays” were one of the first social events and I’m so proud to say that this informal employee gathering is still going strong after 10 years!

On busy days that require running from meeting to meeting, I prefer to keep my comfort level at bay. Luckily for our casual attire policy, I am able to put together an outfit such as this one. I love to mix feminine pieces with a slightly edgy look. Pairing this delicate floral dress with a double buckle belt and a simple leather strapped chunky heeled sandal is just the perfect combo.

It’s been some time since I worked on a fashion related DIY and I’m excited to share this fun yet simple project with you! Nothing beats a pair of classic white Keds for Summer and I’ve partnered with SoftMoc to show you just how easy it is to customize a pair of your own!

I was inspired by fun pineapple and cherry prints that I’ve been seeing in stores as of late and created an ‘adult’ creation by using fancy and sparkly rhinestones for my DIY Keds shoe design. I loved how they turned out!

Not only are these DIY Summer Rhinestone Keds perfect for Summer but they are 100% one of a kind!

I stumbled across this spread of Spring lilacs on a casual stroll last week and couldn’t help but to stop and literally made Kyle snap these photos of me. I can’t believe I spent nearly $30 the other weekend on lilacs (and literally two stems of peonies) at a nearby florist when I could have (but probably shouldn’t) ‘borrow’ some from this yard of lilacs at the park!

The beauty of living in the Beaches neighborhood is that we have so many spots to explore on foot. As much as I love a good sandal sometimes they’re just not all that practical when it comes to long walks by the beach (I sound like I’m writing an online dating profile!). I was introduced to the GEOX Nebula line, designed to walk the world. Nebula features technology that ensures lightness and breathability, offering superior body temperature regulation, which means they’re suitable to wear without socks! I chose these multi-colour version instead of a neutral option because they add so much more fun to a casual weekend outfit!

I’ve also recently been obsessed with wearing longer length necklaces. I went through a phase of dainty stackables, but now, I’m really into longer lengths with larger pendants!

If you like the marble necklace I’m wearing below, keep reading for your chance to win a $60 e-gift card to Shop for Jayu!

For those of you who are well traveled, you’ve likely come to appreciate that different cultures have their own set of preferences. When it comes to coffee, that’s certainly no different! Europeans prefer their coffee short (typically from an espresso machine with more intensity). Meanwhile, North Americans enjoy their daily dose in larger, dripped formats. As for me, I prefer to start my day with lighter intensity and generally in a larger sized cup. But I do enjoy an dark roast espresso shot as an afternoon pick-me-up!

Last Friday, I had the pleasure to join the Nespresso and Chef Ricardo at the Nespresso Cafe, on celebrating the launch of the #NespressoMorning campaign. Over a delicious breakfast, we celebrated the release of Solelio (“rising sun” in Italian) and Giornio (“day” in Italian), the two newest addition to the VertuoLine Grands Crus range as breakfast blends. For us coffee lovers, we often associate the smell of coffee with waking up, and what better way then to wake up with the perfect first cup from Nespresso’s newest Grand Crus large-cup coffees that was designed with Canadians taste buds in mind!

Read more to find out how you can sample a complimentary cup of your own!

Cheers to the weekend friends! So glad that I get to spend the weekend at home because May was an intensely crazy month for me, I barely spent anytime at home this month due to work travels. I’m so excited to be spending time at home with the husband and finally get the chance to enjoy our newly renovated kitchen (more to come on that!)!

With so much business travel that went on over the past few weeks, instead of kicking off the weekend with a cocktail, I decided to throw together an insanely delicious mocktail instead. I took my brand spanking new SodaStream Power Machine for a spin and I’m truly amazed. With just some water and a quick hit of a button, I was able to make quality soda water right from my own kitchen. Not only does this save me time but it is super handy for cocktails and drink recipes, there are also many more added benefits of carbonating at home!

Read further to see how to make your own Black-currant Lime Mocktails!

I was asked to style an evening look for LE CHÂTEAU’s 2016 Spring/Summer Footwear Lookbook alongside with four other Toronto blogger babes a couple of weeks ago. I was charged to create a look that was a reflection of my own style. Most of you know that I spend most of my time at the office or travelling for business, therefore, it has always been important for me to find transitional outfits.

When it comes to a statement shoe, you definitely want to give it the spotlight that it deserves. I opted for a simple, yet classic sleeveless shirtdress with a playful cut that is office appropriate to accompany these sparkly mules which can be easily slipped on and off. It’s the perfect day to evening ensemble.

Read further to see how some of Toronto’s top fashion bloggers styled their look and this summer’s most coveted shoes from LE CHÂTEAU!

The month of May is the perfect time to get the gardening gloves out. I’ve never been much of a gardening expert and actually have struggled to keep my plants alive! With limited gardening knowledge and a small outdoor area, it’s always been a challenge incorporating gardening projects into our busy schedules.

Last Summer, I did manage to attempt a small gardening project and grew our own planter box herb garden on the third floor terrace of our townhouse and surprisingly, it did survive a couple of months! I loved having fresh herbs on hand, where I was able to combine them in our favourite food and drink recipes.

This year, I’ve got some lofty growing plans to not only improve the herb garden, but also beautify our terrace, entrance way, and indoor space with fresh potted and planted flowers. Though I’m slightly intimidated by these projects, I’m super thrilled that I’ve been asked to join the 2016 Scotts Gro Crew, where I’ll have direct access to gardening experts, advice and premium Scotts® Miracle-Gro products, such as Miracle-Gro Flower Magic and Miracle-Gro Moisture Control Potting Mix to assist me through my #IGrewIt Journey! I hope you’ll follow along as I’ll be sharing what I learn with you over the next few months!

You’ve heard it way too many times, “Breakfast is the most important meal of the day!”, and friends, it’s totally true! I can’t go a day without breakfast. On the weekends, Kyle and I have the luxury of time, which means we typically indulge when it comes to preparing for our breakfast or going to one of our favourite brunch spots in the city.

During the weekdays we are often super rushed in the morning and prepping a hearty yet healthy and delicious breakfast can seem like a challenge. But, it doesn’t have to be!!

I came to master the art of creating a variety of breakfast bowls. My latest invention combines the usual ingredients such as yogurt, fruits, and granola but I added Genuine Health fermented Greek yogurt proteins+ products to make them extra protein packed!

I purchased this maxi dress weeks ago and haven’t had the chance to wear it, I was so glad when the weather finally cooperated over the last weekend! I love wearing maxi dresses because they can make a short girl (me) that much taller! This dress, as well as pretty much all my maxi dresses was about a foot longer when I first purchased it, therefore I took it to the seamstress to have her work a bit of her magic. Trust me, taking your most favourite items to get fitted is well worth it.

With Mother’s Day coming this Sunday, I couldn’t help but to reflect on what my mom and I have in common. I would like to think that I inherited some of my mom’s best traits, such as loyalty, kindness and someone that values family and friends. The one thing I am sure of is that my mom and I both enjoy a good bargain. For special occasions such as Mother’s Day, she never asks for gifts and always prefer that my sister and I save up what we have. Shopping for my mom is a tough task because it’s got to be a good bargain!

Pulling together a special gift certainly doesn’t have to be costly, I decided to challenge myself to a style savings spree at the DIXIE Outlet Mall, where I snatched up some really great items (at discounted prices) and curated what I call a Mother’s “Day-Off” Gift Box because every mom out there deserves a day off this Sunday!

Read further to learn how to put a fancy gift box together in time for this Sunday!