Natalie Ho

I am a sucker for sweets, especially when they’re both delicious and beautifully decorated. Wouldn’t it be amazing (and convenient) to send sweets to your sweetheart the same way you would order flowers to be delivered to a doorstep? Look no further, I’m super giddy about the recent launch of ShopBake.com, a unique online market place for bakeries to sell their delicious items online and promote their sweets and treats beyond their shops.

This is such a fantastic service for party-planners, parents, and busy city people (like me!), as it gives you access to 50 of the city’s most prominent bakeries (across Canada) all in one place. You can purchase baked goods from various shops, have them delivered or the option to pick it up from the bake shop if the location is convenient!

How much time do you spend on your daily beauty routine? I prefer one that requires the least amount of time as possible! I rarely have time to eat breakfast before heading out the door and often way too tired before bed to add extra steps in my beauty regimen. Therefore, all-in-one, multi-action products tend to be very attractive to me.

As I stepped into my 30s, I’ve also expressed more interest in ‘taking care’ of my skin—in particular, fighting early signs of aging and sun damage. I honestly wish I had taken my mom’s advice, and started paying attention to my skin much earlier.

I am thrilled about the Clinique Smart Serum. Not only does the product deliver multiple actions (killing a few birds with one stone), but it is also a serum suitable for all ages (perfect for those of you who want to start early!).

Hello! Another month flew by which means I accomplished another month of wedding planning tasks! Hooray! I got to say, I think I’m go a pretty good track, definitely checking off a good amount off the list and even got a little bit ahead in some other areas! If you’re just starting to plan your wedding, be sure to check out my post from last month, which happened to be my first month of wedding planning. Not only are you going to find my month by month task list in this Wedding Planning 101 series, I have and will continue to share some more details around specific wedding related things I’ve been working on, what vendors I’ve came across and what I’ve been successful (and not so successful) with.

Make sure you check back frequently whether you’re planning your own wedding or a dear friends’. I am happy to answer any questions or make any suggestions for you!

Hello! Though it certainly doesn’t feel like Fall out there (we’re enjoying some awesome summery weather), however a new season has officially arrived. With a new season, I always like to talk about beauty. At the start of Summer, I discussed sun-protection, all sorts of hair products and tools to create beachy waves without damaging your hair and make-up for a sun-kissed glow.

Now, if you weren’t all that diligent with using hair-protection products during the Summer and now you’re suffering from dull, dry, and damaged hair from dips in the pool and sun rays, no problem!
I’m treating one of you lucky people to a full line of hair repair products by Schwarzkopf – BC Bonacure Hairtherapy! Keep reading to enter this giveaway!

I am often asked how many attempts I make on my DIY projects or whether I’ve created any major DIY fails. The answer is, OF COURSE! Sometimes I think I have a great idea in my head but when I actually start my DIY creation, it turns into a disaster or a total fail. However, I generally won’t give up and I’ll attempt it a couple more times before I get it right. As you know, practice makes perfect! As a DIY-er, crafter, creator, or artist, I think it is so important to make attempts and experiment with ideas that may or may not work. Which is a nice to lead into today’s DIY sweater project!

I created this DIY sweater almost a year ago as an editorial contribution to a local fashion magazine. However, timing didn’t quite work out and in the end, it never got published and printed (it happens!). I was asked by the Fashion Editor to re-create a Celine sleeve-tied sweater that was seen on the runway last year. I was a little nervous about creating a version of my own that would be well-received by the every-day consumer since the Celine version was very ‘couture’ but I wanted to experiment anyway!

Hello! I wanted to share some amazing [FREE] tools for creating your own DIY graphic designs today! Being able to create your own graphics isn’t only a skill needed as a blogger or a marketing expert anymore. From time to time, I’m sure you’ve wanted to create your own graphics whether it was for a party you’re planning or a presentation you’re conducting. Having some user friendly, high quality, and FREE tools handy, can only be benefit, right?

Photoshop is great when working with photos, but creating complex graphics do require some dedicated learning. I’m so pleased to share 10+ tools for creating your own graphic design.

Hope you had a great weekend! I apologize for being a tad quiet last week. I was in Boston for a work conference and it occupied my time more than I’d hope! I’m back to normal schedule this week and looking forward to bringing you some great posts! Fall is upon us and I am thrilled to stock my closet up with booties galore! For some reason, I’m always on the search for the perfect ankle boot, aren’t you?

Ankle boots are a must-have in any season, but they’ve really come into their own this year. Managing to straddle the line between sophistication and edginess, ankle boots are able to take you from a casual daytime look to a night out on the town. Choose a pair with a killer heel to wear to the office or a dressed down pair of motorcycle boots for weekend lounging. You’ll have plenty of ankle boots to choose from this fall, but the following are a few key trends to be on the lookout for.

Keep reading to shop my picks!

Hello! Hope you’re having a great start to the week! I’m in Boston this week for work, attending the INBOUND Conference. Absolutely thrilled to have the opportunity to hear some great speakers, such as Martha Stewart, Malcolm Gladwell, Simon Sinek, and earlier today, Guy Kawasaki!

I had the chance to meet some of my American friends south of the border today and we got on the topic of travelling within USA and Canada. We had a friendly debate on the accessibility of travelling across Canada, and so I thought I’d give some tips today on the best ways to travel around this lovely country, Canada.

Canada is the second largest country in the world and its landscape is as diverse as it is beautiful. When you take a trip to Canada you really don’t want to miss a thing and you should soak up as much of what the country has to offer as possible.

In that vein, keep reading to find out the best ways to explore Canada!

I’m so excited (and nervous) for my first bridal gown fitting appointments this Sunday! I booked two appointments, one at Felichia Bridal and the other at Ferra Sposa to start. I think I’ve got a clue as to what I’m looking for but honestly, every bride has told me you never know until you try a few different styles. I however, do have a few preferences when it comes to picking the perfect wedding dress – 1) I must be able to sit and walk around comfortably (meaning, no super long train or layers of crinoline underneath), 2)  beading, and 3) low back/backless.

When it comes to preparing for my bridal gown fitting, the one thing that came to mind was what am I going to wear ‘underneath”? I think wearing the appropriate bra/undergarments is so important when it comes to finding the perfect dress. I had the pleasure of visiting Avec Plaisir Fine Lingerie and Swimwear, located in the heart of Yorkville, Toronto, for a one of a kind lingerie fitting experience a couple of weeks ago, in time for my first bridal fitting visit!

Hello! Hope you’re all having a fineeeee week! I always love to share new beauty products at the beginning of each season. A new season means a new fresh start and with Fall just around the corner, time to re-think your skin care routine. SUPER thrilled to share the launch of my favourite Canadian store – Joe Fresh’s skin care collection. Most of you that visit my blog or Instagram frequently will know that I’m a huge Joe Fresh fan so I couldn’t be more excited for this new line of nine skin care products aimed to replenish, protect, and rejuvenate.

Formulated and manufactured in Canada, this range is free of parabens, sulfates and synthetic fragrances, PLUS, no animal testing has been conducted with these products. Joe Fresh first skin are collection is available at 311 Joe Fresh Beauty Bars across Canada (i.e. Loblaws, Canadian Super Store, etc.).