Lifestyle

Do you dread wrapping gifts over the holidays?

If you do, don’t! I’m sure that over the years, you’ve managed to master the art of wrapping regular shaped boxes. Either that, or you’ve likely accumulated piles of gift bags and tissue paper to help you get the job done. The truth is, I love gift wrapping. To me, it’s like a piece of art! Each gift can be customized with fun paper and accessories. And they can even be placed around the house before they’re shipped off to each recipient as holiday home decor!

Have you started decorating for the holidays yet?

I’ve observed two types of holiday decorators, those that go big as soon as Halloween is over or those that procrastinate until mid-December. Where do you fall within this spectrum?

As for me, I like to slowly introduce a few simple holiday inspired decorations in November as a way to ease into the holiday season and as Christmas begins to inch it’s way closer, I will continue to add statement pieces and transition into the full holiday spirit.

I’ve always dreamt of having a Mudroom.

I’m sooooo stoked about today’s post because I’ve been working on this mudroom renovation for months now and I’m finally ready to reveal it!

When we renovated our kitchen last year, we sacrificed our entranceway closet so that we allowed enough space to move our fridge in place. It was always the plan that we would remodel our tiny “basement” into a useable mudroom.

Our barely-there basement was tucked away on the lower level of our townhome, and prior to the renovations, the room’s primary use was for the water heater, furnace, and essentially a storage space piled up with shoes and just about anything that didn’t belong on the upper floors. It was messy, cluttered, and non-functional.

Ready for some delicious festive coffees?

Holiday season aka the best time of the year is finally upon us and I’ve got so much fun DIYs, decor and lifestyle inspired content planned for you! First up is a selection of delectable festive coffees.

Nespresso recently released their holiday variations – Confetto, and these flavoured capsules don’t disappoint! The collection is nothing but fun and you can really experience the originality behind the design of the collection, through the flavours, the names of the capsules and the bold and colourful packaging created by globally respected artists, Craig and Karl.

What make up product can you NOT live without?

If I knew I was about to be stranded on an island and I could only pack ONE make up product into my bag, I’m almost certain I’ll take my foundation along with me (though my brow kit is definitely a close second). I rarely leave my house without putting on foundation. Yes, even if I go to yoga first thing in the morning, I swipe on a light layer, just in case. In case of what? I have couldn’t tell you for the life of me.

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As a content creator and someone who relies heavily on photography to inspire others, lighting plays a critical role in my line of work. I’m always looking for the optimal lighting when shooting photos or working on a creative project.  But, regardless if you depend on lighting in your profession or not, we can’t deny that lighting affects many aspects of our lives.

LIGHTING CAN IMPACT OUR MOODS.

Are you a coffee lover?

If so, when you sample a new coffee you’ve not yet tried before, is there a tasting ritual you deploy, much like that of wine lovers: swishing the glass, and examining the colour and texture? I do. Though I have my usual list of Nespresso capsules I drink on a regular basis, from time to time, I’m given an opportunity to experience new and exciting releases. And when I am drinking a type of coffee for the first time, I like to close my eyes, smell the aromas, and as I’m consuming my first sip, I like to imagine being transported to the hidden origins of these special creations.

There is nothing more fabulous than being able to enjoy terraces and patios extending into the Fall season. When you’ve spent so much time and energy putting together a tranquil outdoor living area, you certainly want to prolong the use of it as much as you can.

I find Fall evenings a great time to entertain outdoors. With the help of some extra comfy cushions and snuggly blankets, your terrace can transform into a cozy and welcoming sanctuary. And guess what, serving up your favourite wines, help too!

Does your skin suffer when you are stressed?!

I’d like to think that I handle stress well, meaning that I don’t typically ‘feel’ stressed out or overwhelmed easily but the truth is, whether I feel it emotionally or not, my body will react to stress physically all by itself, and well, often, my skin takes the first hit!

When I’m juggling between two full time jobs, inundated with multiple deadlines, hit with a busy travel schedule, and piles of laundry are awaiting, the first telling sign that my stress level is rising is the increase in acne and dull, aging looking skin.

Sure, the simple way to correct the problem is to take a trip to the spa or setting some time to relax, but let’s be honest, taking that extra time off just means more work will await and the stress cycle just never seem to end!

The change in seasons always urge me to try new cosmetics.

With Fall just around the corner (and sadly, my tan beginning to fade!), I’ve been drawn to darker eye shadows, soft peach face palettes, and matte lipsticks in nude and jewel tones. Quo, exclusively available at Shoppers Drug Mart, launched their super fun and affordable limited edition Fall collection and guess what? The packaging was inspired by the much sought after marble trend which clearly was also meant to be given my newly renovated marble bathroom!