Beat the Winter Blues & Flues

It seems to be the time of year after the holidays when we're all a little run down and we need some R&R... that mean's rest & relaxation, not rum and rock n roll, so throw away the remainder of any eggnog you might have stored from Christmas and get ready to get your body ready to beat this winter's blues and flues.

One of my favorite ways to relax and kick a cold is with Barefoot Venus's Mustard Bath. This stuff is an awesome combo of essential oils that boasts anti-inflammatory properties, contains circulatory stimulants and a decongestant that naturally draws impurities from your skin. Its the perfect way to boost your immune system, clear out your chest & nose stuffiness, and relax.

The next thing you're gonna want to have on hand is some variations of Davids tea. My favorites are Secret Weapon for the first signs of a cold or Cold 911 when you literally can't smell, breathe, or taste because it is potent. Or, try this bundle below with everything you need to feel better. Drink this stuff, pick up some grapefruit seed extract and drop some on your toothbrush twice a day, and you'll be feeling fine in no time!

Some say sharing is caring, but during cold seasons sharing anything from a sip of your favorite Frappuccino to your makeup brushes or chapstick might just be the cause of a two week long flu bug, so I'm sorry ladies its the time of year to keep your friends and their gimme gimmes at bay. 

If a cold comes in and you're looking as yucky as you feel, fake it til you make it baby. Before bed, reduce eye puffiness by placing tea bags over your eyes, take a hot shower in the AM before work, drink your tea, slap on BB or CC cream depending on if you're a dewy, or matte gal, dig out your real or faux glasses after applying two coats of mascara & keep some chap stick in your back pocket. Now, throw on a bright scarf and convince yourself its mind over matter. If that doesn't work... go back to bed xo 

HAPPY NY: 2013 Recap

Hey guys! I can't believe it is already 2014.

2013 was a wild ride that I only hope this year can beat

to recap the past year in a nutshell my [then] fiancé and I graduated from University/College packed up our car with as much of our stuff as we could and drove across Canada from New Brunswick to Alberta with a few suitcases, our dog, and my little sister for the best company we could have asked for.


5000km later...

We spent about two weeks in Alberta with our families and again packed as much stuff into suitcases as we could getting ready to move to Europe for the year for Kyle to play professional hockey & for me to relax, travel, get all my money's worth out of a Turkish spa membership, eat & drink some of the best food and wine in our lives, meet amazing friends, and pick up a few new Hungarian phrases. We got to visit Hungary, Italy, Austria, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Slovenia, Croatia, and Germany. My my favorite thing about it all was being submersed in the Hungarian culture, learning their way of life, and getting to meet the amazing locals in our town of Székesfehérvár; a word that once looked too crazy to pronounce, quickly became our home.

Prague

Trevi Fountain Rome

Mozart man in Salzburg

Christmas Market Vienna

Spring in Hungary

Venice

Budapest

We returned to Canada in April and the race was on to get ready to go to Mexico for our wedding! With the help of Kyle's Mom & sister we were able to get everything set and ready to go. The trip was a blast and our wedding day was without a doubt the best day of my life!

 

Now it was time to start a new life in Alberta, Canada. Home to Kyle and a place very new to me. We are still getting used to things in a place far from my home in Nova Scotia, but I am hopeful that 2014 will bring lots of great new changes and hopefully new adventures for us to share together!

 

My resolutions for this year are:

 

1: Use up every single bottle of cream, face wash, lip gloss you name it before I buy more. I desperately need to minimize my stash

 

2: Do more yoga & drink less wine

 

3: Read the Bible in search of knowledge, wisdom, and if nothing else to get better at Jeopardy

 

4: Eat less meat

 

5: Experience a new adventure 

 

 

Happy New Year Everyone xo's

20 Something's

The closer I get to being 30, the more I start thinking about my 20's. Are our 20 something's the magic numbers that define our lives where we're allowed to be irresponsible, travel, and live with our parents again? I have learned many valuable things throughout my 20's that I wish I could have bestowed on my younger self, so I felt like compiling a list for other 20's something to share in case they are guilty of these young idiosyncrasies too.

1. You will not always feel the need to be bleach blonde. You will actually like having hair a few shades darker, getting it done way less, and therefore not going broke once a month trying to hide your natural much darker roots from the world. Get some low lights and save both your wallet and your hair from too much blonde.

2. That thing you're trying to accomplish with bronzer & black eye shadow? It's called contouring. Put down the black and pick up a makeup manual. It will come in handy in more ways than you know.

3. Quit University after first year and travel with your big sister. The ability to do this and [her] will both be gone too soon and her dreams to see the world will inevitably become your own.

4. That awful drink you used to stay awake to study in college with 10 sugars and 5 creams? Its called coffee and will become one of your favorite habits that you will not only come to drink Black and enjoy, but will also try to quit drinking several times and return back to it simply because you love having a cup and hey, there are worst addictions right??

5. Maturity does not come with marriage or entering your 30's. You will still laugh, stumble, want to take naps, rely on others, and remain terrified of driving. At least for a few more years.

6. Don't do shots at bars. I repeat shots. One is your max. You are not a heavy weight champion. You do not hold hard liquor well.

7. Don't drink Pinot Grigio just because your friends do. That shudder you make after each sip means you don't like it. You're a C girl: Chardonnay & Cabernet. Remember that.

8. You will find your Prince Charming when the time is just right. Well, maybe too young, but he will become your husband, so go easy on each other. You will both live and learn.

9. You will stop hating the fact that your mom used to pester you to go to church with her. You will be grateful of the knowledge you learned there that will not only come in handy during your English degree, but also in life and someday you will again crave spirituality.

10. Be very grateful of your childhood. Very few had such awesome neighbours as you to swing on ropes in barns with, act your age, and remain such very special people to you as you get older. Oh and stay closer to them in high school. They are wiser than you.

11. Be nicer to people. All people. Kindness will become your mantra.

12. The hometown you hated? It is truly one of the most beautiful places on earth and you will spend a period of your life missing it so much it will bring you to tears.

13. Your little sister will become the most beautiful and kindest young lady. Spend more time with her. You will miss her everyday you're apart.

14. You were right, you do look better with a tan, but not from a tanning bed. You will get fine lines on your forehead from it and self tanner works just fine.

15. You will experience a lot of grief and loss and you will get through it.

16. As you gain confidence you will shed your tough shell you used to protect yourself for many years.

17. Stop obsessing over the stretch marks you got on your thighs during puberty. Someday you will accept and appreciate your body for what it is.

18. Make better desicions when it comes to getting tattoos. You will spend a lot of wasted time and money getting rid of them.

19. That dog you got in college? She will become the best decision you ever made and will cuddle with you and make you laugh when you need it most.

20. You will never be sure you're working the right job, living in the right place, or doing the right thing. Be grateful of each day and take it as it comes.

Hungarian Cauliflower Casserole

When I was living in Hungary last year I met an amazing friend who taught me all the hidden gems of our little town, like where to get my nails/hair done, where to tan, take dance classes, and she would have me over to her beautiful house to teach me Hungarian dishes. I honestly love this dish so much I could eat the whole thing to myself. There are a few steps, but I will try my best to break it down for you!

Ingredients:
1 pack of ground pork
1 pack of ground turkey
1 1/2 cups of uncooked rice
2 heads of cauliflower, or 1 really big one
1 large container of sour cream
2 TBSP of paprika
1/2 onion
Olive Oil
1 tomato or paprika pepper (optional)
Goulash paste & paprika paste (optional if you can find it get it its so good. Check it out here, here, or here)
salt & pepper to taste

Step 1:
Add 1/4 C Olive oil to saucepan and caramelize chopped onion. After about 6 minutes add ground turkey and pork mix together and cook thoroughly. When cooked add about 1/4 C of water, salt & pepper, paprika and a generous squirt of each paste if using. Paprika burns easily, so adding the water is an important part of this step. Mix together and continue cooking uncovered. Add a tomato cut in half, or a paprika pepper cut in half just for flavoring. Remove after about 5-7 minutes and discard. Do not worry if it seems runny, you want it to be moist.

Step 2: Add 1/4 C olive oil to sauce pan and then add uncooked rice and stir. Paying close attention stir and heat rice being careful not to burn about 3 minutes. Add 3 cups of water bring to boil then reduce heat. Allow to steam for about 20 minutes. Remove from heat, stir, let sit additional couple minute then add rice to meat mixture.

Step 3: Chop cauliflower into small pieces and steam/boil until its soft, but not soggy.

Step 4: Put meat/rice mixture in the bottom of casserole dish, next layer cooked cauliflower on top, and then spread sour cream mixture on over top. Bake at 350 for 40 minutes, or until sour cream starts to lightly brown on edges. Serve!

Poppie

I have an obsession with graphic Tee's right now from making my own DIY versions to scoring random gems like this little Tee. I was actually a bit disappointed with the overall fit of the shirt when it came in the mail, but it looks good under blazers and I love pairing the pink in it with my bright orange blazer. Please excuse how pale my legs are in these pictures. I planned on wearing my black ripped denim with this outfit, but I forgot to pack them and I took these pictures on a trip to visit my sister, so I threw on my trusted black dress shorts and my sisters boots..the only thing missing was my trusted St Tropez tanning lotion! 

Top @ Romwe

Blazer @ H&M

Shorts @ Le Chateau

Watch @ Aldo

Boots @ Pseudio

Stripes & Cognac

I wore this outfit to a dinner party this summer and felt comfortable all night in it. You can throw on a black blazer easily over top to take it from day to night. I really love cognac for accent accessories. I feel like its a brown that goes with anything from other browns, to black, and almost every color in between. This stripe top was so perfect for the dinner party because it hugs the waist where you want to look smaller and then flows out.. meaning I could still eat a lot and not worry about a bulge showing haha!

Top @ H&M

Pants @ H&M

Watch & Necklace @ Aldo

Booties (old similiar here) @ Aldo

Pajama Style Garden Pants

 

When I first started seeing pajamas as a trend on the runways I wasn't exactly sold. Sure, they looked comfy, but I mean the prints & styles were what I picture my grandparents wearing to bed. Then I found these PJ  style pants and I was sold. These silky pants are so comfortable and the pattern reminds me of a botanical garden you would find somewhere in Asia with all the Chinese tree pink blossoms. I wore them to work one day and everyone kept saying how wild my pants are, but I think they are so fun! What do you think? Would you wear these?

 



 

 

 

Silk PJ Pants @ Romwe

Tank & Blazer @ H&M

Watch @ Aldo

Black Heels @ Aldo

 

Tanning Bed In A Tube

Every gal's secret winter weapon, and mine for the past 6 or 7 years, is going to be Too Faced's Tanning Bed In A Tube. This delicious tropical smelling cream is an instant bronzing gradual self tanner that gives your skin an immediate glow and with constant use builds a sunless tan. It is super easy to apply, just squirt a dollop in your hands to smooth over legs, or I mix it with my face cream before I put make up on to bronze my face. Not only does it deliver a gorgeous glow, but it has Grape Seed extract & Safflower Oil to moisturize skin as well as a firming formula that stimulates collagen and elastin production, who doesn't want that?! Oh, and its vegan friendly! 

Too Faced: Tanning Bed In A Tube

Noisy May

Meet Noisy may

She's noisy, but she's nice.

I honestly haven't owned a pair of jeans I've felt comfortable in that I want to wear to dress up, or even dress down for years. Don't get me wrong, I've still bought some and worn them now and then, but I always felt like they were too tight, too low, and too uncomfortable. Jeans seem to be one of those things all women have a love hate relationship with, but I am here to tell you I have a new favorite pair of denim.  They are deemed the younger and louder sibling of Danish brand Vero Moda. When I first went into the store and told the workers I was looking for what they would consider "Mom jeans" all they could do was muster, why?? What they obviously didn't know is that not only are Mom jeans coming back in style, but they are so much more comfortable and attractive than low rise jeans (unless you're built like Miley Cyrus). So, after trying on probably 30 pairs of jeans I ended up falling in love with non other than the high waisted skinny's by Noisy May!

Jeans Noisy May @ Pseudio

Booties & Watch @ Aldo

Blazer @ H&M

Scarf @ Le Chateau

Unicorn Sweater

I bought this unicorn sweater a while ago on Asos and as soon as I saw it I just had to have it, but it was too hot until recently to really start wearing it. Asos was my absolute favorite website to order from while I was living in Europe, but when you order from Canada they charge you a lot in duties which makes ordering from there make no sense when lots of great sites don't charge.. but I still miss it. Either way, I love Fall and chill cozy Fall fashion like this super cute comfy sweater.

Unicorn sweater @ Asos

Blue Slacks @ H&M

Weston Bag @ Michael Kors

Nude Heels @ Aldo

Bracelet @ H&M