Natalie Ho

I guess Winter decided to visit afterall! We spent our Valentine’s Day weekend in Ottawa with friends outdoors, braving the -40 degree weather with layer upon layer of thermal wear. When we returned to the city, I couldn’t wait to get out of my bulky parka and winter boots covered with salt stains! I swapped my less than attractive winter gear with my newly acquired Fjällräven Keb Loft Jacket which is lightweight, yet durable and highly insulated and functional. Layered on top of a knit sweater and leather vest, this jacket is the perfect companion for a wet, slightly milder winter day without compromising fit and style.

I adore naked cakes. I love the simplicity and elegance it offers and each and everyone has its own character, they’re perfectly imperfect. My sister and cousin gifted a naked cake to Kyle and I as our wedding cake and I absolutely loved it (see more wedding photos here). I’ve been meaning to recreate one as a side project, but the truth is, I’m no baker. I can’t seem to follow baking instructions correctly and much of my baking attempts typically turn into a disaster.

It was the perfect timing when Therese from ARTIESE Fine Art Photography approached me to collaborate on a creative shoot with her. I thought I’d take this opportunity to help those of you who suffer from the same baking issue as me. Don’t fret, I’ve got just the perfect DIY for you, to transform a store bought iced cake, into a beautiful, personalized, naked cake.

For those of you who are getting ready for Valentine’s Day or still stumped as to what you’re going to gift the special ladies in your life, here are some great last minute Valentine’s gift ideas for you to consider! Whether it is sending florals on demand from Tonic Blooms, creating the perfect dinner ambiance with heart shaped candle holders from Artemano or better yet, a Miraj Hammam Spa by Caudalie Gift Certificate is just the perfect last minute gift – I’ve got some great selections below!

To show you just how much I love  Valentine’s Day, I’m giving away a Hammam and Gommage Spa Treatment c/o of Miraj Hammam Spa by Caudalie valued at $135!

Enter Now!

I partnered with Joe Fresh to show you how to add a touch of true love to your favourite Joe Fresh designs with this easy DIY project.  This post originally appeared on Joe Fresh Post. 

Valentine’s Day is around the corner and I think it’s a great time to channel the spirit of love into something fun and stylish. I love Valentine’s Day. It’s a great time to celebrate the simple acts of love with the special people in your life. If you’re looking for ways to spread some Valentine’s Day appreciation, try your hand at this effortless heart-print paint technique to embellish those Joe Fresh basics!

These are 100% washable and loveable!

I don’t snack too often but when I do, I generally gravitate towards healthier snacking options and if time permits, for example a weekend afternoon, I love throwing together a meat and cheese board and dressing it up with bells and whistles such as olives, chocolates, and assorted roasted nuts.

However, sometimes, I just don’t have fancy meats and cheeses stocked therefore I’m so thrilled to come across KRAVE Jerky, which to me is just the right compromise of a healthy and savory snack option!

Valentine’s Day is coming up and it’s by far one of my favourite times of the year to cook up some simple DIYs! I’m looking forward to surprising friends with sweets and treats to tell them just how much I love them!

During a stroll through IKEA a couple weeks back, I spotted these RIMFORSA test tubes (comes as a set of 4) and thought they would make the perfect containers for the bags of red and pink candies I picked up at the store. I am such a sucker for IKEA products and absolutely love a good IKEA hack (see my last IKEA hack and what I posted on Instagram). Their items are inexpensive in nature and I can always find a multi-purpose for them.

These glass casings are a great option as elevated Valentines or party favors!

Read further to see how you can assemble your own Valentines Test Tube Candy Gifts.

TGIF friends! Weekends are reserved for fun outfits just like this playful combo I sported last weekend to Sunday brunch at FIGO (OMG YUM!). I’m totally loving the 70s trend comeback and decided to channel it by adding these cognac fringed suede boots to my winter style. Now, 70s and flared denim jeans typically go hand in hand but since I wanted to show off my new ‘fringe’, I opted for a criss cross tied denim tunic dress instead. I’d say I made a pretty good choice!

I’m also super excited to share that I’ve been invited back as a LE CHÂTEAU Shoe Ambassador for a second year! I’m really looking forward to bringing you another 12 months of trendy shoe vibes and great finds from LE CHÂTEAU!

To celebrate another year of great shoe picks, I’m giving one lucky reader a chance to win a $150 LE CHÂTEAU gift card!

Keep reading to enter this fabulous contest to shop your favourite shoes!

With such a busy schedule, an overflow of stimulation (computers, phones, televisions, etc.) and an abundance of options, where I’m able, I prefer to make simple choices at home, at work, and especially with my fashion selections.

Workday mornings are a bit hectic therefore I choose to live in basics, such as solid t-shirts, denim jeans, cozy knits but dressed with impactful pieces such as a statement necklace, chandelier earrings or luxe materials such as a faux fur coat or delicate lace. Making these simple daily choices I love has been a great addition to my daily routine!

Over the last couple of weeks, I partnered with Excel for the launch of their new Naturally Sweetened gum. Just like my effortless daily fashion choices, choosing Excel Naturally Sweetened gum is an easy choice you will love. I love this new gum that is made up of simple ingredients without artificial sweeteners, colours of flavours.

Whether it is sticking to wardrobe basics or adding simple ingredients to a recipe, what are some simple choices you make every day that you love?!

Last week, I was invited to enjoy an exclusive lunch and learn with Chef Cory Vitiello of The Harbord Room and Flock. He demonstrated how simple it was to transform dishes by incorporating Florida Grapefruits to create delicious masterpieces. Inspired by the juiciness and unique combination of bitter and sweet that grapefruits exhibit, I decided to prepare a grapefruit cocktail that is just splendid!

That few leftover bottles of champagne from your New Year celebrations is just the perfect excuse to whip up this Florida Grapefruit and Pear Champagne Cocktail, am I right?!

Happy Thursday! Last week, I launched the start of a new blog series, “From My Desk” to share some of my personal experiences for the career driven, goal-getters out there (I know there are plenty of you!). Juggling between a full time job and a lifestyle blog requires quite a bit of organizational skills. Personally, being organized is tri-fold. It’s a combination of scheduling, prioritization, and setting goals.

Over the last several years, I’ve managed to devise my own plan and discovered a plethora of tools to help me stay organized.

Read further to find out my favourites!