Natalie Ho

To help you get through the start of the week, I’ve got a cheeky and fun recipe I’d love to share with you. I mentioned in my recent smoothie post that I’ve been playing around with pineapples, I know you’ve all tried a banana split, but how about a Pineapple Split? This creation was inspired by my new favourite food magazine – Ricardo. Trust me the photos are drool-worthy so I urge you to pick up the latest Summer Issue!

Summer is all about fun and colour. This easy, peasy Pineapple Split is a sure crowd pleaser for the young and old!

Summertime is best when accompanied with great activities and tasty treats. The Pan Am games are in full swing in the city and I’m certainly cheering for Team Canada! I’m showing my support by sporting some staple game day apparel, how cute is this vintage inspired Pan Am t-shirt? Whether dressed up or down, this t-shirt speaks WINNER! I encourage you to check out the TORONTO 2015’s online shop for more ideas or visit the TORONTO 2015 official store at Toronto Eaton Centre, these items are only available for a limited time!

Before heading off to the games, I also treated myself to a cup of FROYO to keep my belly (and me) happy. So thrilled to share that I’ve been invited to join the Menchie’s Canada Ambassador team!

What does this mean?! Delicious cups of frozen yogurt for me and (7 cups) for YOU!

Join me on my #MenchiesMyWay adventures this summer by participating in this fun contest to win 7 complimentary visits to Menchie’s. Read further to enter!

Living by the beach has some major perks, i.e. stopping by for some sun at all hours of the day! Kyle and I paid a visit just days after we got married, to enjoy some peace and quiet after all the hustle bustle, and it was super relaxing.

I’m obsessed with these Sanuk sandals I was recently introduced to. The footbed is made from real yoga mats and they are super lightweight, perfect for travel or tossed in your beach bag. What I love most about it is the comfort level, when you walk, it feels like you’re walking on two tiny memory foam mattresses…. umm how good does that sound?!

I love summer for many reasons, but one of them is certainly the assortment of fresh fruits that are available during these warm, sunny months. I love pineapples, but typically don’t buy them whole (pre-cut speaks to the lazy side of me!) BUT, a few days ago, I decided to bring a few pineapple friends back home with me and I spent the day making not only one but THREE tasty pineapple treats that is sure to tantalize your taste buds. I’ll be sharing the three recipes over the course of the next couple of weeks – first up is a simple yet tasty smoothie that is good enough for breakfast, lunch, or a refreshing afternoon pick me up!

Read further to see how easy it is to whip up your own Pineapple Banana Mint Smoothie!

Kyle and I decide to wait until September to go on our honeymoon, but we did manage to take a few days off after our wedding and spent quality time together, hanging in the city, at the beach, and spending plenty of time with family and friends. On Saturday, we’ve nearly exhausted our list of things to do. I finally suggested to hop on a streetcar with no plans in mind and see where the day takes us. Our first stop was Toronto Harbourfront, continued with food and drink overlooking the water, admiring a 60 meter luxury yacht, and later, a spontaneous meet-up with some friends – it was the perfect unplanned day of fun. We make so many plans in our day-to-day, such a refresher to let the day plan itself. Try it sometime!

For my wedding day, I wanted to look timeless. Therefore, I opted for simple yet stunning jewelry and accessories. I also wanted to make a selection of pieces that weren’t overly ‘bridal’, so that I could incorporate them into my regular wardrobe again.

I had searched months for a pair of earrings and finally met the perfect pair of delicate sparkly scalloped edge chandelier earrings. For my feet, I picked a classic pair of nude patent Ferragamos I’ve been meaning to add to my wardrobe for years. For my wrists, I started the day with a simple pearl bracelet embellished with a center crystal-clustered bead c/o of Vivah Jewellery and later ended up with an additional gifted diamond tennis bracelet from my parents (woah! They are too sweet).

I don’t often see brides carry a clutch or bag on her wedding day, but sure am glad I decided to take this beautiful golden clutch also c/o of Vivah Jewellery along my side (my maids took turns keeping it for me while I wasn’t able to). I was able to take along some important items with me such as a mini makeup touch up kit, tissues, tide-to-go, and I managed to keep my phone close by my side (hello… Instagram?! LOL, all jokes aside, in case of unexpected vendor emergencies).

For all you bride-to-be’s or if you’re simply attending an upcoming wedding, I want to celebrate with you!

My friends at Vivah Jewellery and I are running a giveaway for TWO $5o vouchers to spend at their new online store that is set to launch on Tuesday, July 14, 2015. You can shop any items your heart desires! Enter using the widget included in the full blog post!

Sorry for the lack of posts lately, but I was a little pre-occupied the last couple of weeks, preparing for our wedding and busy getting hitched over the past weekend! I’m still in a bit of a shock but absolutely excited and thrilled to start this new chapter of my life with my new husband. Husband! Yup, I said it! Eek!!!

Saturday, June 27, 2015 was honestly a magical day and I couldn’t be more happy then how the day turned out. Yes, it rained the entire day, from the moment I stepped foot out of my house to the moment we ended the night as newlyweds, but we didn’t care less! Many people gave me marriage and wedding planning advice along the way, and one that resonated the most with me was that you will NEVER be able to get the exact same people in the same room, celebrating a joyous moment together – it was truly remarkable to see so many friends and family, near and far, focusing their attention on us the entire time. If you’re gearing up for your own wedding – be sure to savor, enjoy, and take in this very special moment – it is incredible.

There are a few things I absolutely adore about summer – sun dresses, sandals, and visiting the beach. On summer solstice, we decided to take a quick stroll by the beach in between all our outstanding wedding errands. Totally glad we took a quick break and also gave me the excuse to sport my recent Joe Fresh summer hat DIY!

I managed to add a few new favourite items to my summer wardrobe recently, including this super fun pink lips print tube dress from The Dancing Jewels inspired by the original Alice McCall version and also a pair of SUPER comfortable wedge sandals from Le Chateau. I love how fun this dress is and pairing it with a wedge sandal is the perfect match. I am smitten by all the items from The Dancing Jewels, they carry an amazing array of unique dresses, inspired by many designer options that are both super hard to find in stores, and they are a fraction of the cost. I can’t wait to show you the other two pieces I got! Use promo code NATxTDJ for 10% off!

Happy Monday! Thrilled to share with you my latest DIY contribution for my friends at Joe Fresh (psst, they’ve also got a face lift on their blog!).

A giant floppy sun hat is a must during the summer season. I’ve managed to collect a wide variety of sun hats over the years and they are all fairly similar to one another. Gearing up for this summer, I decided to make my newly acquired Joe Fresh hat ($12-16) stand out by embellishing it with a sequins trim and a nifty phrase. Nothing speaks vacation mode like a “See u later,” right?

Happy Friday! Today, I’m sharing a snippet of my latest contribution on Titika’s blog! I love Titika‘s collection of “active couture” wear that never fails to bring me from work, to the gym, and to cocktail hour. Their collection of items are extremely comfortable and embellished with feminine details that I always have me at hello! Here is a short excerpt from the post, be sure to check out the original full post for more tips and suggestions on bringing sexy to the studio!