Home Decor- Halloween Edition

Home Decor- Halloween Edition

I’ve always been a fan of holidays, so getting into the spooky spirit of Halloween with our home decor was no exception.

In keeping with the black and white theme at the front of our house chose a few simple decor pieces to really make a statement.

Black flower pots: (Homesense) Striped Pillows (The Bay), Bench Cushion Pad (Ikea), Conversation Set (Walmart), I updated the red cushions to black from Homesense, Door Mat (Winners), Black Lanterns (Jysk)

Continue reading “Home Decor- Halloween Edition”

50’s Flashback Photoshoot

50’s Flashback Photoshoot

Sometimes life doesn’t work out exactly as planned, and sometimes, when it doesn’t, it means that better things are coming your way. Sometimes, you just have to let go, go with the flow, and know that everything will and does work out. Those last few words are a few that my fiancé repeats to me, and are things that he is really good at and what I really admire about him.

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Can we just take a moment to appreciate how this bouquet is pastel perfection!

So, when I had a shoot “perfectly” planned for us, and our shooting location shut down unexpectedly, it was on to plan b. The problem was, there was no plan b, a big no no on my part. I was so set on  this specific photo-shoot location, I planned my outfits around it, and thought everything was going to be just perfect. When Krenare, our photographer messaged me 10 minutes before we were supposed to meet telling me that news you could imagine my disappointment.  I really had to think quick on my feet and find somewhere that we could shoot indoors (the weather was not on our side that day).

Luckily, I had recently seen some pictures of the most adorable doughnut shop on Instagram, and it was the first thing that popped into my mind. So, on our way to meet with the photographer I called the doughnut shop (which was down the road from our initial spot) to make sure they were okay if we came in and took some pictures.  When they said yes, that panic was all of a sudden swept away with a huge feeling of relief.

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Now while I was upset that the initial location didn’t work out, and that the weather didn’t exactly cooperate with us for outdoor photos, I cannot believe how amazing and perfect the shots that we got turned out. It really goes to show you that things really do work out, and to not stress the small things.

The shoot location was so inspiring that it also was what helped me land on the theme for my birthday party this year. Every year, I plan a party, where everyone comes in costume, and I decorate and serve food and drinks according to the theme. After this shoot, I fell in love with the 1950’s so much so, that I have even been purchasing a lot of retro items of clothes–lucky for me, the retro theme hit stores HUGE, and came perfectly timed for my party (early birthday gift, I think so!) The pastels, the polka dots, the full swing skirts, I could just go on and on about how much I love all of it!

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It helped having an amazing and patient photographer and THE cutest retro doughnut shop to shoot at.

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I am so excited to share with you guys our little couples shoot, because really, no matter where the pictures were taken, it was always about love, and that would shine through wherever we went.

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This was my first time visiting Daddy O Doughnuts, and I can assure you it won’t be my last. I’m not a huge fan of doughnuts, or sweets in general really, so when I actually enjoyed my ‘Homer Simpson’ doughnut, you know it had to be good. My financé of course was happier than a kid in a candy store when he found out the new shooting location and that eating of doughnuts would be involved. It really was a win win for everyone involved.

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A special thank you to everyone who made this shoot so special, these are a few pictures that are a keepsake to remind me everyday why I love my fiancé, and how he’s helping shape me into a better person.

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Stay tuned for lots of behind the scenes and for highlights from my Retro/50’s Diner themed birthday party coming up in less than a week! You can follow along on my Instagram to see what I’m up to leading up to the day, and of course, lots of day of sneak peaks!

Location: Daddy O Dougnuts , Photographer: Krenare Ali, Makeup: Facetime With Daniela ,Makeup: Hair Addictz StudioFlowers: Blossom Moments

xoxo,

Staffordable

Motel Hamilton- Restaurant Review

Motel Hamilton- Restaurant Review

The new (and adorable) little Sister to School Toronto is Motel Hamilton. After some major construction, transformation, and face-lifting, Motel Hamilton officially opened its doors on June 9, 2017. It is slated to be, if not already is, one of the hottest brunch spots in Hamilton. With its Palm Spring’s decor, delicious food and drink menu, you will forget you’re only about an hour outside of Toronto.

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If you’re looking for a new place for brunch/lunch in the Hamilton area, go check-in to Motel, you’re sure to enjoy your stay, I know I did!

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When you pull up to the restaurant, you will see the adorable little pastel pink MOTEL sign, and until you walk in (or peak in the window) you wouldn’t really look twice at it. The second you walk in you are instantly hit with Palm Springs motel chic, the smell of delicious food, and the enthusiasm and smiles of the staff!

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Before all the hype began and bloggers and foodies from allover began flooding into Motel Hamilton I was lucky enough to visit shortly after it first opened. Lucky for me, this meant it was less busy, making for optimal photo-shooting time.

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The pastel pink walls, palm leaves, and little motel details really transform this restaurant into a work of art!

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An old pastel pink rotary phone sits at the “front-desk” otherwise known as the “lobby bar”.

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Neon lights are popping up all over the place lately, I love the quirky little detail and homage to a real motel of this one!

We were seated instantly and started off with drinks. The speciality drink menu  (The 5 O’cocktails)  isn’t extensive, but the regular drink menu has everything you would need and more. The cocktail menu drinks run at $12.00 a glass or “Motel-sized” for an extra $2.50. Of course, seeing the Flamingo Sangria I knew immediately I would be ordering that. My boyfriend went with a twist on a classic Caesar and got the Bacon Bourbon Caesar. Once we received our drinks I began taking some pictures, because who could resist photographing cocktails like these?

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Since it wasn’t too busy, one of the staff asked if we’d like to move over to the white table as it was “better for pictures”. I couldn’t have agreed more, and immediately jumped at the opportunity. I was glad he did because my plated food pictures turned out 100% better because of it. There’s something about food on a sleek white table that really grabs the attention to your followers and is proven to be visually more effective.

THE DRINKS

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I’m not a fan of super sweet/sugary cocktails but this sangria had just the right amount for me, with a good mix of bubbly!

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I seriously could have stayed and ate (and drank) here all day, the decor was serious goals!

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Taking a sneak peak at the decor before hand on Instagram, I knew exactly what I was going to wear! I’m a huge fan of themes, so when I saw the pastel perfection and Palm Spring’s decor at Motel Hamilton ,there’s no way I wasn’t going to incorporate palm leaves and flamingos (always) into my outfit! One of the staff members even complimented my outfit and said it was matched perfectly with the decor (success!)

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THE FOOD

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In keeping with traditional brunch, I went for the Charred & Smashed Avocado Croissant (because, avocado, always!) It came with a side of tasty kale salad! The croissant was very fresh, and the eggs were perfectly cooked. They even stayed good after all the pictures I had to take of my food first!

My boyfriend, being the boy that he is, went for the ultimate match made it brunch heaven, chicken and waffles. The waffle was topped with vanilla honey butter, a sweet and salty sauce, and buttermilk fried chicken. While I’m not a fan of waffles, fried chicken has a large part of my heart, so I tried some of his. It was perfectly spiced and battered with undoubtedly moist chicken!

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The food was so yummy and so visually appealing that they basically photographed themselves!

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HELLOOOOOO PINK WALLS!

I would without a doubt recommend this restaurant and can’t wait to go back and visit again!  There were lots of items on the menu I had my eye on, saving them for the next time knowing I would be back.

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Thanks for stopping in!

Head over to my  Instagram to follow along my tasty and fashionable journey!

xoxo,
Sara

The Ferg- Prince Edward County

The Ferg- Prince Edward County

After spending the last long weekend up north at a cottage, my boyfriend and I made an extended long weekend and headed to Prince Edward County. I had visited both Sandbanks Provincial Park and Wellington before, but had always wanted to check out the charming little town of Picton. After doing some research, I came across the cutest Victorian home vacation rental called The Ferg located right in Picton. The Ferg was originally built in 1850 and has been restored and renovated with inspiration drawn from Scandinavian design, with touches of minimalism, simplicity, and charm. This spot is perfect for a little romantic weekend away for two, a wine tour with girlfriends, or have the family come out and enjoy the Main House. A little R & R is the Ferg’s specialty!

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Talk about pastel perfection!

A sweet escape from the city is always nice, especially when you visit somewhere that feels so welcoming just like home. The Ferg is the perfect destination to do just that. Booking your stay is so simple, head over to their website to book directly.  I heard back from one of the owners Anna right away, who was so kind and helpful throughout everything. With our instructions on how to get to the house and get into our section of the house, settling in was a breeze. The beautiful historic home is divided into three separate sections available to be rented out and has a very cottage-like feel to it. The Main House for a larger group, The Loft, and the One Bedroom Suite (this is where we stayed.) It was the perfect size and had all the amenities we needed.

Immediately upon entering the home I was blown away by the simplistic, rustic, Scandinavian décor. I wouldn’t have imagined myself appreciating this type of décor, but there was something so refreshing about the minimalism of it. Right away we felt right at home.

Tour:

Guests enter through the back of the home (where the parking lot is located). There is a cute picnic table, a bbq that could be used be all  guests, and well-maintained gardens in the backyard. You come in through the kitchen, while although small, has everything and more that you would need during your stay. There is a small table with two chairs which is perfect for tea for two in the morning.  A small bathroom stems off the side of the kitchen, which included a full bathtub/shower.

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A place for everything, and everything in it’s place!

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Guests then walk into the living area/dining room space where a large wooden table is situated in the middle of the room. The colourful fresh cut flowers stole my hear right away. This is the perfect spot to enjoy a home-cooked meal complimented with a nice bottle of local wine.

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Off to the side of the dining room was the bedroom. It was a small space but was really all we needed for our stay. There was a large bed which was so comfortable I could have stayed in it all day! During the day we kept the blinds open in the room to let the beauty of the natural light do its thing. The minimalism decor also carried through into the bedroom which I very much enjoyed, going to bed with a clear room makes for a clear mind and the ability to rest easy.

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The natural lighting in the bedroom makes for optimal makeup application, an added bonus!

The last part of the One Bedroom Suite was the family room. This room had a large L-shaped couch, coffee table, and a TV with cable.  There was an additional door off of the family room that led outside to a small porch which would be a great spot to sit and wind down after a day of touring around Picton and the wineries, etc.

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My absolute favourite part of the house was the large wooden table with mis-match painted chairs, it came together and worked so well. There is so much character in this space and you really felt at home, truly a great place to relax! The rustic floors added even more charm to this space, not to mention made for a great place to take pictures! There is so much natural light that emanates through the rooms and the crisp white décor really make a blogger’s job of photographing a dream.

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The specs:

This fully self-contained and private One Bedroom Suite offers a queen bedroom, a spacious dining room and living room with a queen sleeper sofa, a charming gas stove to heat the unit, a foodie-equipped kitchen, a full bathroom with a bathtub and a private front porch shaded by an old maple tree.- thefergpec.com 

Amenities:

24/hr Check-In

Cable TV

Family / Kid Friendly

Free Parking

Hair Dryer

Heating

Indoor Gas Fireplace

Iron

Kitchen, complete with Coffee Maker

Laptop Friendly Workspace

Pets Allowed

Organic Shampoo & Conditioner

Smart TV

Wheelchair Accessible

Unlimited WIFI

Mavea Water Filter

Organic Coffee, Tea & Sugar

Thank you to The Ferg for a lovely little getaway. If you are planning to visit, you’re sure to love this space as much as we did!

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The rest of our stay in PEC:

We decided to do a little touring around the area and ended up coming across some really neat spots!

We stopped into Bloomfield and visited County Collective‘s pop-up shop. This has to be hands down the most adorable shop inside and out, not to mention the sweetest owner (Tania!)

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Escape Canvas Utility Bag: Forest Bound- $99.00

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The Tiffany Pratt Canvas Collection is to die for!

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The most beautiful coffee table book out there! Tiffany Pratt- Designer, Author, Maker is the epitome of rainbow perfection and DIY’s

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Next on our list was a visit to the hip and modern Drake Devonshire.  This is a definite must when visiting PEC. This restored historical home dubbed “Drake by the lake” has been beautifully transformed into a hotel, restaurant/bar, and even a hot-spot wedding venue.

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These are the views you’ll get to experience while sipping drinks on the back patio.

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We then headed up the mountain to check out Lake on the Mountain Provincial Park. Now, this concept might sound strange, but it’s actually a lake on a mountain…really think about that for a second. It stands 62 meters over the bay with a constant flow of fresh water, water that no one knows where it comes from…

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We grabbed drinks and a delicious charcuterie board at The Miller House Cafe Brasserie which had a spectacular view from the back patio.  The Miller House has quite a bit of history behind it and is the oldest building in Lake on the Mountain.

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When I found out there was a winery with a big purple barn I knew we had to go check it out. Closson Chase is really the first winery that  helped start the fascination of Prince Edward County’s wine industry.

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After a day and a bit in ‘The County’ I’m already dreaming of going back.

xoxo,
Sara

c/o: The Ferg (Instagram)

Weekend Getaway- Queen’s Landing (NOTL)

Weekend Getaway- Queen’s Landing (NOTL)

On the Easter weekend (which also happened to be my Birthday) my boyfriend treated me to a weekend getaway at Queen’s Landing in Niagara-On-The-Lake (“NOTL”). Neither of us had ever been to NOTL before, so you can imagine my excitement when we pulled up to this beautiful hotel for our first NOTL experience. I mean, who could say no to staying in a magical place like this, enjoying the local shops, and to top it all off, local wine tours! It really made me feel like a Birthday princess, and every girl deserves that on their Birthday, and really, any day! Head over to my Instagram to see some posts of our stay!

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We drove up on the Friday morning (it was a holiday for most, so the traffic was lighter than normal). Typically, the drive is about an hour and half from Toronto, not bad at all for a little escape from the big city !

The Hotel:

Queen’s Landing is a beautiful sprawling historic inn that overlooks the water that blends old world class with modern amenities. We even got to take in a beautiful sunset on our last night there down by the water! The hotel isn’t on the main strip which is nice because its less busy and is a short scenic walk passing by old Victorian homes.

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(Jacket: Zara,  Sweater: J-Crew, Shoes (Tory Burch), Sunglasses (Quay Australia)

With its large white pillars and beautiful gardens it has a really inviting setting right from the drive in.  I felt like royalty the second we turned the corner and saw the wrought-iron fences and a glimpse of the beautiful grounds. Parking was right out front which was convenient for moving our stuff into the room along with available free valet parking.  There is also WiFi in the public areas, which made blogging on the go a breeze! The lobby presented guests with sophistication and charm with the antique décor and fresh flowers everywhere. There were a lot of couples coming in to check out the Inn as a potential wedding venue and I can certainly see the appeal, it’s absolutely breathtaking!

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Checking-in was a breeze and within minutes we were up to our room where a rose lay on the pillow (such a special touch!) Since it was my Birthday there was also a special bottle of wine and a cheese board in the fridge from my boyfriend’s parents, I was on cloud-nine within minutes of seeing all of this!  There was also complimentary water, which you don’t always see at hotels.

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After settling in and dropping off our bags it was off to a late lunch in the beautiful quaint downtown. Lucky for us it was a nice warm and sunny day so we walked around for hours checking out all the little shops and restaurants. We went to the Angel’s Inn for some pub-style food, it was delicious, and great drinks! I was also told I had to check out the basement as it was supposedly haunted, safe to say I went and came back pretty quick!

Downtown was bustling with tons of people coming to spend a beautiful Good Friday in NOTL. I was told it isn’t typically that busy but because it was a long weekend there were larger crowds than normal. Nonetheless, we were able to enjoyably walk around and grab food and drinks no problem.

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We came across THE cutest storefront and of course I had to snap a pic!

After walking around for a few hours we went back to the room, got changed and decided we’d head into Buffalo for a few hours of shopping! One of the other joys of NOTL is it close proximity to the border. From door to door including going through the border it took only 30 minutes!

We got back to NOTL around 9:30 pm and decided to go back to the Angel’s Inn for a late dinner since we enjoyed it so much at lunch. There was a live band and everyone was singing and dancing, it was a really fun atmosphere at night!

On Saturday we spent the better part of the day on a wine tour, visiting 3 local wineries. The wine tour started around 10:30 so we were up and at ‘em pretty early after catching a quick breakfast. Our tickets were purchased on Travel Zoo and included a trolley car style bus (think San Francisco) to pick us up, take us from winery to winery, and then get us safely home. Unfortunately the weather wasn’t the greatest that day and was raining quite heavily for most of the tour. Luckily most of them were indoors and for one we were only outdoors for a little to check out the amazing vineyard. I would really enjoy coming back in the summer to do another wine tour on a hot sunny day.

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After a few hours wine touring, our bus took us back to our hotel. After a lot of wine tastings it was time to head back to the room to enjoy our cheese platter and more wine, because why stop there? We did a nice walk around the hotel since Friday we didn’t spend much time inside the hotel. We checked out the bar and restaurant along with library, and the pool/gym facilities. We didn’t get a swim in, but it looked lovely, there was also a hot tub and sauna, I guess that just means we will have to go back!

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More pineapple spotting!

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I loved all the décor throughout the hotel, but I especially took a liking to this hallway with its palm leaves and bright white colours, I could have taken pictures here all day.

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And then I did…

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We also visited one of the sister hotels of Queen’s Landing, The Prince of Wales. This hotel was just as charming inside, with the most adorable tea-room, definitely stopping in for teatime next time I’m back!

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(Sunglases: Quay Australia, Top: Banana Republic, Jeans: H&M, Shoes:Winners)

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It was one of those Summer-like Spring days so we stopped in a local cafe for some gelato!

IMG_5225I couldn’t help but stop to say hello to the beautiful horses outside the Prince of Wales Hotel. This beautiful girl was named Cinderella, I loved her right away (look at that adorable little flower!) There were horse and carriage rides available that would take you around town in style! IMG_4604

What better way to greet a horse named Cinderella than by wearing all tulle and sparkly “glass slippers”?!

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This town is seriously out of a movie, everywhere I turned I found more and more charm!

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Never too old for tulle and glitter!

(Top: Zara, Skirt: H&M, Shoes, Top Shop, Clutch: Tory Burch, Necklace: Kate Spade)

Before dinner we decided to go down for a walk by the waterfront since the rain cleared out and it ended up being a beautiful night with a stunning sunset. It was only a few minutes to walk down and there was a lot to see along the way. I can only imagine how stunning it is with all the sail boats out in the summer. Our hotel had a wonderful outdoor patio was stunning views of the water.

We decided to take the free private shuttle that you order from the hotel that takes you in and out of downtown. I think this was a great addition, especially when a lot of guests have been out on wine tours!

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(Top & Pants: Banana Republic, Shoes: Payless, Clutch: Tory Burch)

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Couldn’t get enough of this sunset, I could’ve watched it forever!

After dinner and some more drinks (surprise, surprise) we walked back to the hotel since it was only a 10 minute walk or less and was a beautiful night to do it! The front of the hotel was beautifully lit up when we returned, what a perfect way to cap off our magical stay!

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There are 142 guest rooms within the Inn that are all furnished with luxurious bedding, a safe inside the closet along  with high-speed and wireless internet.  There was also a flat-screen t.v and a small gas fireplace (ver cozy touch.) Both the bathroom and the room itself were very spacious. With the added comfort of the 2-inch mattress pad, we slept very well!

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(Top: Urban Planet, Pajama Bottoms: Old Navy)

Sunday morning we had an Easter brunch back in the city so unfortunately we didn’t get to stick around past 10:00 a.m. It was another beautiful day, I really did not want to leave! I brought home with me my two beautiful roses that were left on the bed as a reminder of our lovely time at Queen’s Landing.

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(Dress: Winners, Sunglasses: Quay Australia, Purse: H&M)

Next time you are planning a visit to NOTL, whatever the occasion, be sure to check out Queen’s Landing, you will not be disappointed!

I can’t wait to visit again soon, thank you Queen’s Landing for a wonderful weekend getaway!

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xoxo

Sara

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Rainbow Grilled Cheese

Rainbow Grilled Cheese

Last summer rainbow grilled cheese took the social media world by storm! I first tried one at the Canadian National Exhibition in Toronto and decided one day I would make my own!

That day has finally come, I was not disappointed, and neither was my wallet when I saved $8 a pop by making one of these bad boys myself.

With St. Patrick’s Day just a day away, why not wow your friends with one of these!

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Find the recipe below for your very own goo-ey, “taste the rainbow” experience.

What you will need: 

1 cup of your favourite cheese (shredded). I used mozzarella.

3-4 different food colouring shades of your choice

4 slices of bread

2 tablespoons of butter

1 tablespoon of sprinkles for garnish. I omitted it this time around but DEFINITELY including it the next time!

DIRECTIONS

  1. Divide your cup of cheese into separate bowls and mix in food colouring.
  2. Heat up your pan to medium-high. While you wait, spread butter on one side of each of the 4 pieces of bread.
  3. Place the butter side down, align cheese (I went horizontal, next time I will go vertical so the colours come out better when pulled apart). Top with the other slice of bread (butter side up!) Grill until golden brown and cheese is starting to melt. Flip, and grill for 2 more minutes.
  4. Remove your grilled cheese from the pan, spread with a little more butter and top with a little, or a lot of sprinkles!
  5. Enjoy the magic!

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The highly Instagram-able cheese pull…

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Clarins Open Spa Launch Party

Clarins Open Spa Launch Party

Earlier this week I was so fortunate to be able to attend the opening of Clarins Open Spa at the Hudson’s Bay Queen Street location in Toronto. This marked the official opening of the spa counter in North America, this is 1 of 3 locations, how cool is that?!

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For just $35 you can enjoy a 30 minute luxury spa experience, it doesn’t get much better than that! An affordable luxury experience is right up my alley, I can’t wait until I can come in next for my next spa treatment!

The 30 minute Clarins Open spa offers 7 different treatments for both men and women. It starts with a consultation and they will even touch up your makeup at the end. This is great if you want to get a quick spa fix before work, or on your lunch so you can go back relaxed and looking better than ever!

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These were some pics I snapped of the products used inside the existing spa room that Clarins had for longer spa sessions.

Let’s talk about the details of this amazing event! Upon arrival Dave’s guests were greeted with Clarins signature cocktails (cranberry and apple), or your choice of red or white wine. The cocktails were flowing all night along with a wide assortment of gourmet appetizers from Oliver and Bonacini. They were all so delectable and I couldn’t pass them up every time they came back with a platter!

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My first time trying duck, it was delicious!

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The brie with grilled mushrooms was my absolute fave, I think I had about 4 of these!

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The macarons were beautiful and I couldn’t let them go without being photographed! We had bluberry, pistachio and hazelnut options!

I’m such a sucker for details so naturally the beautiful white flowers caught my attention right away! The red carpet was an amazing touch, and made us all feel so special to attending this exclusive event! We were introduced to the president of Clarins Canada, such a humble and beautiful lady, the national sales director and the director behind the Spa experience, another beautiful lady with a beautiful and bubbly personality! Eric Antoniotti visited all the way in from Paris. Eric is an international artistic and training directior and wait until I share some exciting news about my night with him below!

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The marketing and PR team put on an amazing event and I had a great time getting to chat with them. I enjoyed the cocktail experience at this event as we were able to socialize a lot in a casual yet beautiful atmosphere surrounded by Clarins beauty products. Of course, I couldn’t do my thanks without mentioning the man of the hour (always), Dave Lackie. Dave has connected so many beautiful influencers, bloggers and beauty enthusiasts through the events and I couldn’t thank him enough! If you don’t already follow Dave and love beauty products, follow him for some awesome giveaways and beauty tips!

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I was so lucky to have my makeup done by the one and only Eric! I can’t stress enough how talented this man is and how enthusiastic he is about Clarins and every detail that goes into each and every product. . In addition to beautifying  my eyes, Clarins has joined up with the Pur Projet which is committed to planting 10,000 trees for medical or cosmetic use. This will help revive the Kuntanawa culture of the Amazon

I was so amazed by the smokey eye look that Eric created for me using Clarins “The Essentials Eye Makeup Palette”. This palette is made with 10 beautiful shades, Eric used 4 to create my look!  What amazed me even more was how effortless Eric made this look, and even gave me pointers on how to recreate this look myself. I will definitely be picking up this palette, its absolutely everything and more!

Getting the ultimate VIP treatment!!

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The final reveal…

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I couldn’t believe how much this makeup made my eyes pop, I received so many compliments on it! I was already wearing Clarins lipstick in plum, I think it was a great pairing for the smokey eye look!

I really did not want to take this makeup off, it was too beautiful and I wanted to enjoy it forever! Now, I can only hope that I can recreate it myself, I think it would be a perfect makeup look for the holidays!

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The “Rosewood” shade is absolutely stunning and I think it’s what really made this look so fantastic!

I can’t wait to try out all these products and share my experience with you. I have already been using the Clarins lip oil for a few months and I am so impressed with it. I put it on at night before bed or before I put my lipstick on for a flawless application. All of these products are available at the Clarins beauty counter in Hudson’s Bay, Hudson’s Bay.com or Clarins.com

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I got so excited about sharing the products inside my gift bag that I forgot to post a picture of one of the items. I later realized when I was putting away my lovely new products that I had forgot one (and I think this one is going to be my favourite once the cold temperatures creep in and the dry skin comes out!)

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Be sure to check out #ClarinsOpenSpa on Twitter and Instagram for a look at the evening through the eyes of all the lucky attendees!

Of course I couldn’t resist snapping some outfit pictures!

I got a lot of compliments on my bell-sleeve top. It’s from H&M, but I haven’t seen it available in stores for a while! The plunging neckline black jumper dress is also H&M! Layering blouses, or turtlenecks under dresses is HUGE in fashion this season so I decided to give it a try.  I finished my look with Franco Sarto leather boots and decided to add clip-on pom-poms to the side of my boots!

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This top makes me feel like royalty!

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Thanks so much for a beautiful evening with so many beautiful people!

xoxo

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Twitter: staff_sara

A PLACE FOR EVERYTHING & EVERYTHING IN ITS PLACE: CLOSET CLEAN-OUT 101

A PLACE FOR EVERYTHING & EVERYTHING IN ITS PLACE: CLOSET CLEAN-OUT 101

Spring is already in full-force but I just recently did a massive Spring clean-out of my closet. There’s nothing better than finally getting around to cleaning out your closet and organizing. I always find that I am less stressed if I’m living in a area that is clutter free and neatly organized.

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A place for everything and everything in its place!

Here are a few of the tricks I use when tackling the dreaded closet clean: 

  • Does this fit?”- sometimes it can be a tedious task to take items out and try them all but if you’re going to commit to cleaning you’ve got to do this step. Otherwise, you will find yourself putting it back in the closet and coming back to it the next time you clean.
  • Have I worn this item in the last 12 months?” – Now, if you’re anything like me and have a lot of clothes, the answer to this question is almost always no. I tend to keep two separate closets, one for winter/fall clothes and one for spring/summer. By doing this I can make sure I get good use out of my seasonal items, some things like tanks you will always find yourself using no matter what the season is, since you can throw a sweater or jacket over top. If I have to really question when I actually wore the article last I toss it! I always have the urge to keep things and think that I will find a use from them one day, but the reality is my closet was overflowing and un-used items were building up fast!
  • Will I ever wear this again?“- We all have those articles that we just had to have and probably thought it was so cool at the time. Or, perhaps it was a fancy dress you bought for a wedding or a party that you will never wear again. This is a tough one, but think hard about whether your style has changed and if you could really see yourself ever wearing it again or if it was just that one-time item sort of thing. My style is constantly changing and sometimes I question the items I’ve bought in the past. I also don’t tend to stick to any one style in particular, but we all go through our phases. My closet was getting filled with parts of costumes, etc., so instead of keeping these in my closet I started up a costume box for anything I really couldn’t part with and think I could definitely use again.
  • Is it damaged in any way?“- I currently have a few items that need a quick stitch and you know what, they’ve been sitting in a bag in my closet for a year (what does that tell you??) If I don’t make the effort to get something fixed right away, do I really need to be keeping it, clearly I’m not missing it!!
  • If I was shopping right now, would I buy this?” – This is a huge one for me. Again, going back to my style constantly evolving this is a tough question for me sometimes. I think, okay, this would be great for the beach, or this would be great for a party. If I can’t find an occasion to wear the item I put it in my pile for donating.

This may seem like a lot of work to go through to organize your closet, but it really does pay off in the end.

Last but not least, a couple of my all-time favourite closet organization tricks:

  • Colour coordination is a must!!! (I know exactly where that hot-pink tank is, or that skull-print sweater is)
  • Keep your pants and dresses separate. I am lucky enough to have a separate closet for these but if you don’t, try using a different part of your closet to hang these in their own area so that they aren’t mixed up with your tops!
  • Double-up on hangers. If I were to put one item per hanger I would be keeping the hanger companies in business even more than I already do. If I have an thin-strappy orange coloured tank, I will hang it on the same hanger as an orange coloured top. It saves you hangers, and space!
  • Keep the bulky sweaters in a drawer. If you have a wardrobe USE IT! Not only does hanging up bulky sweaters suck up a ton of space it can also damage the shoulders in a lot of sweaters (speaking from experience)
  • When I buy a new item, I try to donate at least 2 items. This rule is crucial if you’re a shopoholic like me. If you aren’t getting rid of anything and new items are always arriving in your closet you will find yourself overwhelmed and running out of space quickly!
  • Use all the same hangers. I get just plain white hangers from the Dollarstore, they’re cheap and I like the consistent look of them all being the same. Also, make sure you have them all hanging in the same direction!
  • Hang up racks in your closet if you have any large statement necklaces. For me, this was a huge must-have. I like to be able to see all my jewellery and this was a perfect way to do that and have it look good at the same time!
  • Sufficient lighting. If you don’t have a light built-in to your closet, try having a lamp close by. It really helps to be able to see your clothes in the right light so you know that that black blouse is actually black and not navy blue!
  • Try keeping any shelving and the bottom of your closet clean of junk. We all have a habit of throwing stuff onto the shelves or floors in our closet. For me, I have everything in little boxes or baskets all neatly tucked into my closet. This is the type of stuff for me that I have a hard time getting rid of (receipts, old school assignments, etc.) I find myself going through it quite frequently and purging.

I hope you enjoy my tips and that they’re helpful to you if you embark on a spring cleaning journey! I’d love to hear what any of your organization tips are, feel free to comment!

For more helpful hints, take a look at link below for an awesome Cosmopolitan article!

http://www.cosmopolitan.com/style-beauty/fashion/advice/a17905/8-clean-closet-style-reset/

xoxo,

Sara