Lifestyle

Whether you’re in a highly technical profession or a free flowing creative spirit, continuing to learn and develop in your own area of expertise will most certainly benefit your career. However, in addition to ‘bettering’ yourself in your comfort zone, I personally also like to challenge myself to acquire new skills and discover new areas of knowledge. Oftentimes, I end up developing a new passion that I hadn’t considered before!

Since becoming a part of the Nespresso Coffee Connoisseur Club, I’ve managed to learn a few new tidbits about coffee. It has widened my familiarity and preference in both taste and intensity of coffee.

Spring is such a beautiful season, isn’t it? The days get longer, the sun gets warmer, and flowers start to bloom. It’s such a wonderful time of the year. I spent the first long weekend of Spring making room for all the wonderful things I love about this season.

I’m often asked where I find inspiration for my DIY projects. The truth is, just about anywhere and more often than not, around ordinary objects laying around the house. I could be starring at a lemon or a book cover and it’ll spark a thought in my head for my next project.

I was brewing my Nespresso coffee one Saturday morning and as I was refilling my empty glass bonbonniere with my favourite capsules, the pastel coloured ones particularly stood out to me. They reminded me of beautiful and delicate Easter eggs. 

If you’ve ever seen the movie Up in the Air, you would have learned a thing or two from George Clooney on how to navigate through the world of business travel. When you’ve been in the air as much as his character Ryan Bingham has, you’ll too pick up on a few tips and tricks.

Over the past 10 years, I’ve traveled quite extensively for business. One year, I spent over 120 non consecutive days at various Marriott hotels and pretty much lived out of my suitcase over a three-month period. With all that business travel under my belt, like Ryan Bingham, I’ve become quite efficient when it comes to packing for my trips.

I’ve been using various types of micellar water for makeup removal for quite some time now, and my obsession with this product continues. On my quest to replenish my stock, I decided to put La Roche-Posay’s new line of Micellar Water ULTRA to the test.

The primary reason for my love of this type of makeup remover is that it is an easy peasy, one-step process. And secondly, it doesn’t leave my face feeling extremely oily or slimy compared to oil-based makeup removers. I find that when I use oil based removers, I must follow with cleansing my face immediately.

As a DIY enthusiast, I have major appreciation for all things handmade and each year when I visit the One of a Kind Show, I’m always so in awe of the time and effort that each artisan puts forward in order to bring their best work and pieces to the marketplace. Each product is like a work of art, because when it comes to handmade goods, every item is unique. No one item is identical to the next, and that’s what makes them all so very special.

Many of you wonder how I can manage a full time gig and my side hustle as a blogger. Well, the secret is … I start my workdays early (I’m at my desk by 7 am!) and I am always looking for ways to cut down any unnecessary time spent on getting ready or preparing meals.

However, it also means that on extremely lazy or dreary days, I’m not always looking my finest during the wee hours of the morning, and admittedly, I also find myself reaching for unhealthy lunch and snack options just for the sake of saving time.

Last month, I introduced Nespresso’s limited edition release of SELECTION VINTAGE 2014, an Arabica coffee that was harvested three years ago. The coffee endures an interesting taste of woodiness combined with fruity notes, and a velvety texture. And since it was recommended that this special breed of matured coffee was to be enjoyed black, I was inspired to pair it with the bold flavors of aged meats and cheeses.

I’ve learned from my time with fellow Nespresso coffee connoisseurs that, just like wine, coffee, when paired with food, can exhibit different flavours and aromas.

A little while back, I shared a very personal story about my journey of losing my hair to alopecia areata. Suffering from alopeica (hair loss), especially when it is unexpected and sudden can be extremely detrimental, both physically and emotionally. For those of you who are/have (or know friends and family) experiencing or experienced with any form of hair loss, I hope you were able to find some level of comfort or encouragement after you read my post from last April.

I am happy to report that since my last update, I’ve not experienced another episode and with the help of some amazing Aveda hair products, I’ve also managed to keep my hair and scalp nice and healthy!

Do you change up your skincare routine during the harsh winter months? What about your diet? Do you consume foods that will help you nourish your skin? Well, if you’re not already doing so, think twice!

During the cold months while you’re exposing your skin to the chill air and gusty winds, your skin can experience increased dryness, redness, and dehydration. It’s so important to modify your skincare products so that they can help you battle those challenges!

In addition to stocking up your vanity with some supercharged items, it’s also a great time to add some extra wholesome and hydrating items to your diet to combat winter skin inside and out!

Read further to learn about some of my newly-added Winter Skincare and Beverage Pairings from Shoppers Drug Mart and President’s Choice!