Nude Never Goes out of Style

nude nail polish seems all the rage this fall season and i'm quickly jumping on board. I like mixing up my routine with a subtle nail colour, pairing it with plaids and richer tones in my clothing. a good ol' nude polish is a classic staple to own, just like that little black dress   or blazer. here are four nudes that go well with any skin tone for this season.

Buying & Wearing a Pair of Birkenstocks

pic 1 via, pic 2 via, pic 3 via

i have been a long time lover of the Birkenstock sandal. while they might not be everyone's taste in shoe style, they sure speak to the little granola lady in me. in all the years i've watched my good friends own and rave about these sandals, i've been hesitant to buy a pair for the fear of "the foot mold" process that i've understood can be a little painful to get through. i also have to admit that i didn't know anything about the purchasing process or how to find the perfect fit. well this summer i bit the bullet and finally bought my first pair, and i can tell you, i'm in serious heaven.

the most important thing to know is that Birkenstocks are designed to help contour to your foot. The bumps and grooves you see help to promote proper food health and prevent your foots natural desire to flatten over time without support. they also reinforce knee care being made of cork, and help with foot grip and circulation in your legs.

 if you are a newbie like me when it comes to buying Birkenstocks, here are a few things you need to know:

1. make sure to buy from a reputable dealer, there are lots of fakes out there so make sure you are getting the real ones.
2. know your exact shoe size as Birkenstocks need to be a perfect fit, if not ask a sales assistant to measure your foot
3. Birkenstocks come in a regular or narrow fit. if you don't have issues with shoes fitting or if you tend to have a wider foot, you're a regular fit.
4. open up all the buckles and then place your foot in the shoe, now do up the buckles starting at your toes. this step can make a big different in the fit and feel when trying them on, so be sure not to skip it when deciding how you like them
5. these sandals should push you back on your heels to promote good posture, so pay attention to see if that is happening when you try them on.
6. i  highly suggest wearing them around your home for an hour at a time to help break them in and get your feet accustomed.
7. most people i have spoken too say that it takes 1-2 weeks of wear before you notice them mold to your feet, so be patient.

i'm so happy with my new white pair and that i'm pretty certain i will be buying another pair in the very near future! my very happy feet have found their sole mate.

Rebels Refinery - Gifts for Guys

images are from here, here, here. owners portraits from here, by Jamie Morren.  products shown are –  "Wealth of a Man" Black Soap Bar, Clear Skin Cleanswer & Moisturizer, Rehab Roller Under Eye Treatment, Skull Lip Balm. 

i initially wasn't going to post yet another gift guide for the upcoming father's day, since the whole world seems to be doing it already, but what i am going to do is promote a kick-a** company, selling some kick-a** products for men ... oh and did i mention they are Canadian? yup. because they are, eh.  Rebels Refinery is a company created by three best buds born out of an interest on how to take better care of themselves and their skin. men and women alike can appreciate the horror of waking up to a new laugh line. but what these boys couldn't find was a manly line of natural skin care products that actually appealed to ... men. something our guys could leave out on the counters and not feel ashamed of when their pals came over. something for men, by men. makes sense to us ladies! so hence came some serious research, creative design, exceptionally creative low-budget online marketing and voila - Rebels Refinery is born. as they state "most of our products are 97% natural/ 90% organic and pure gold." and for those who love the show, they also appeared in an episode of Dragon's Den!  

these guys have created decently priced products for any man, that smell great and look good. so much so that even the ladies will love it. simple genius. you can shop in store, or shop online, just visit  http://rebelsrefinery.com

oh. and did we mention that they give just over 2% of sales to Prostate Cancer Canada? these guys are just dang awesome.
so, let's hear it for the boys. 

                                  you can follow them on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram too.

Hello Beach Hair Babe

image from here, here, here and here

i don't know if it was the relaxed vacation style or the salt water, but i'm VERY into messy beach style hair right now. my mind is already racing with ways to keep up this natural looking style now that i'm back. it's effortless, simple and so perfect for spring and summer. while my natural hair is a dirty blonde colour, it's lightened up a fair bit since the trip, however i'm still dying to book an appointment to add some additional highlights around the face and on the tips. 

i remember way back in the day body wave perms were a big hit in my high school (anyone else?!), which lots of gals used to add thickness and texture to their otherwise flat straight hair. does anyone still do this? because i'm seriously considering about how to make that happen! ah beach vacations. you do such wonderful things for my otherwise limp hair.

Polar Vortex Chic

image via

let's be honest. it is cold. not just cozy in a wool sweater cold, but ice in the bones cold. right now in Toronto, much like other areas, we are definitely going through an extreme cold snap, which has cleverly been nicknamed the #polarvortex. so while we load up our travel mugs with steamy hot coffee and beat down the static in our hair, here are a few of my recommended items to help you feel a little more chic and a little less frigid, while battling this final deep freeze phase before spring. stay warm friends!

pleated wool coat

aviators

itouch friendly gloves

big knit wool scarf

sequined hat

aztec wool knee high socks

burts bees lipbalm

aveda brilliant damage control spray

knee high sorels

Colour of 2014 - Radiant Orchid

recently it was announced that the colour of the year for 2014 is  Radiant Orchid. to be honest, i wasn't so sure at first (and let's be honest, i am still not sure) if i can get behind this colour. it's bold and it's very, very brave, which i love, but it isn't a tone that i often wear or am drawn too outside of a lipstick choice. after some thought i came to realize that while it isn't perhaps a colour i could paint my walls, it might do well as a small accented pop of colour. from a single patterned pillow, to a textured purse here are a few different ways, and in a few different shades,  how you can incorporate this vibrant and very sassy colour throughout the year ahead.

to view past colours of the year visit The Pantone Website

Autumn Beauty Best of the Best

the autumn season is the time of year i begin to notice that my skin starts to change from combination to dry. i have always adapted to those changes by using sugar from my pantry as an exfoliant, paired with rich facial oils packed with vitamins for the coming winter – like Nuxe Huile Prodigieuse Dry Oil , or my recent new find which smells SO amazing, the Youth Preservation Serum by Clementine Fields (review to come soon!). i have also always then modified my make-up routine to help keep my face looking fresh. i crave spending as much of this season outdoors as possible and so my morning and (when needed) evening routine is quick and to the point. this is the time of year i swap out up my bronzing powders for tinted moisturizers, and things like my peach powder based blushes for more liquid based berry 2in1 stains. here are a list of my tried & true favourite beauty recommendations for this season, and the best way to take your fall look from day to evening in a matter of minutes.

day time

when it comes to my daytime routine i'm quick and to the point. in the mornings i'm usually found running out the door to work, or to an early morning gym class. like i said earlier, i like spending as much time outdoors as I can, so i like to keep my face as fresh and as natural looking possible. because of all that I focus on key double duty products to give you that crisp cool morning rosy glow.

1+ Bigelow's Warm Apple Cider Lip Gloss

2+ Revlon Lash Blash Mascara in Brown

3+ Laura Mercier Tinted Moisterizer (great for the start of dry skin season)

4+ Brown Sugar (mixed with cleanser this is the best exfoliating scrub in town)

5+ Benefit Bene Tint for lips and cheeks (this gives that perfect duwie cheek and provides a long lasting touch of colour for lips)

night time

my night face is what i do post work and more often than not on my way out the door to meet friends, or my hubby for a night out. I typically carry these supplies in my purse so i'm always ready for anything, along with some rose gold hoop earrings and an elastic for a quick bun updo. for any evening look that isn't overly formal i truly believe that it shouldn't take take more than 15-20 mins to get ready. heck - i'd rather be out drink in hand doing something fun!

1+ Benefit Watt's Up Shimmer (used as a highlight under the brows and on the cheeks)

2+ Mac's Ruby Woo Matte Lipstick (this one stays on perfectly without bleeding. it is the best red i've ever found)

3+Aveda's Rose Mascara in Black (great for plumping up and it also smells heavenly)

4+ Stila Shimmer eye shadow

5+ Maybelline Foundation Stick (great long lasting wear and super easy to apply to any much needed cover up areas)
6+ Butter London Nail Polish

 what are your favourite tried & true products?

50 Creative Minds

Design & Photo credit goes to Piccsy Blog - http://blog.piccsy.com

Living in a major city hub like Toronto, there is so much great art and culture to take in that surrounds you. Recently, Piccsy blog shared an exciting new post on the 50 Toronto designers that everyone should know about. The post provides an excellent list and is a definite read for anyone looking to stay on top of what is trending in the creative design world.