LittleBit - Making New Habits

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the other day i watch this TEDTalk video that really stuck with me and got me thinking about where i'm at in my goals (short and long) and where i'm going.

the truth of it is, i'm great at making lists, and i'm good in my intentions, but bad at holding that intention long enough to make it a sound habit. sometimes i stop myself even before i even begin out of fear and feeling overwhelmed.  

so let me welcome the LittleBit app.

studies over the years have shown that it apparently takes a full 21 days to form a new habit and this app is focused on just that. helping work slowly over 21 days to make a new habit. basically here is how it works ...

1. open app
2. make goal realistic short term goal you want to achieve as a habit
3. for 21 days participate in your new habit and track your participation with a picture or log file 
4. collect 1 point of every day you practice that habit
5. ta-da! after 21 days you've now formed your habit, proceed to carry on with said habit

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it's always good to regroup and refocus on some good habits in my life. i have some new short term goals i wanna hit and i definitely needed a little kick in the pants to make it happen. So i'm going to give this app a delightful try, and besides it's pretty cute too.

after 21 days i'll post a recap of my goal, if i achieved it or failed (truthfully) and my goal related pictures. fingers crossed it works! happy monday everyone!

Living Room Spaces

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right now our main living space is still somewhat of a slow work in progress. the room is freshly painted a nice light grey and we were fortunate enough that the previous owners created some beautiful custom built in cabinets. after living in this space for a while, we finally feel ready to stock the nooks and crannies with some decor. whenever you move in with someone it takes a bit of time to figure out what your combo style is, and i think we've finally got a handle on that! we've also decided that it's high time to "retire" some of our old dorm room furniture that has been harbouring in this space and make room for more "mature" choices! 

here is our room style board and where we finally hope to end up! #beforeandafterstocome

The Penny Paper Company - Don't Grow Up // The Bay - Stainless Cocktail Set // Polyvore - Black & Brass Bowl // Ikea - Stockholm White Lamp // Restoration Hardware - Vise Bookends // Persian Rugs Canada - Vintage Persian Rug // Pfeifer Studio - Leather Fringe Pillow //  West Elm - Linen Sofa  // Amazon - Rattan Basket Set // Urban Barn - Betina Grey Throw Blanket //  Vintage Trunk - Thrift Store Find // Priced Right Fine Art -  Blue Print

What's currently on my coffee table.

my living room coffee table has always been the landing spot for all my current favourite inspiring reads.here are some of the ones i can't get enough of lately.

Anthology - a fantastic and upbeat feeling mag covering all things trendy as they relate to decor, travel, design and entertaining 

Kinfolk - folk living and entertaining at its best is what this is.  this thick and ad-free magazine is filled to the brim with unreal rich landscape and food photography with a focus on poetic story telling and inclusive stories from around the globe.

Cook's - a cooking magazine for everyone. cook's highlights classic recipes and clever cooking tricks for every reader with illustrated examples that you'll want to cut them out and frame the pages.

National Geographic - the all time classic read always filled with some of the best most educational stories around and detailed photography. a good read for upping the brain game.

Cereal - a stop-you-in-your tracks modern magazine focused on lifestyle trends and global travel. one quick read and you'll want to pack your bags for an adventure.

The Cord Taco

the first two images from the wonderful folks at This Is Ground and
the last image is by the talented lady at Coco and Mingo.

would you like a little salsa and margarita with this? I do! one of my biggest pet peeves in life is messy cords. bain of my existence. between the iPad, phone and laptop, i'm a messy tangled lot of cords by the end of each day. then i heard about The Cord Taco by the amazing folks at This Is Ground! – a beautiful shop of handmade leather goods. i'm hooked. i'm totally stuck on the adorable name and tiny taco shape of these cord organizers. it's a simplistic and totally brilliant idea to help keep your bag and let's be honest, our lives a little more in line. Their craftsmanship is unreal so you will be hard pressed not to find some great gifting ideas from this shop! in fact, when you start to drool over their products, i double dare you not to buy something for yourself.

Pippit

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as of today there is a new app in town and it is call Pippit, created by the lovely ladies and gents behind the well-known blogs Love Taza and Oh Joy. if you have a deep seated love for all things Instragram and find yourself screen saving shots of interesting decors, fashion, or DIY projects, this app will now do all that for you into lovely categories you can easily access. 

image via itunes/pippit

you can now follow your favourite blogs through one central app. you can even create your own "pips" by posting photos, content or videos, and pinning links and descriptions on items within (for example - direct links to where you bought those cute shoes, or your favourite restaurant or hotel you stayed at while travelling). social media is very much a phone game these days, lets be honest. it's not really something we do very often sitting in front of our desktop computers. Pippit is designed by bloggers, with bloggers and blog readers in mind. it's a great app for content creators looking to share information faster and in a more friendly way with their audiences, and especially for readers who want a one stop shop for everything rather than toggling between windows on our phones. i'm excited to spend the next few days test driving this app, if not for anything other than i really love saying the name too, perhaps followed by a good "chip chip cheerio!"  if you test out the app, share your experiences likes and dislikes in the comments below.

you can also follow Pippit on twitter for more tips and suggestions on how to use the app Twitter.com/PippitApp/following

#thewhiteshoeproject

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when i was younger i remember never waking up to an alarm. in most cases i got up with the sun jumping out of bed, throwing on my sneakers and heading out the door to play outside. as i got older my responsibilities kept getting bigger and my days always seemed to get shorter and shorter. it is easy to get lost in our day-to-day routines, but sometimes a small movement can give you the wake up call you needed to remind you of that kid you used to be.

insert By-Us Co., the creative minds behind valuable initiatives worth talking about. recently By-Us Co launched their latest online campaign @theWhiteshoeproject, focused on bringing back adventure and exploration. the group explains that "it's a project driven by the 'wearer' and the miles that they tread ... white shoe is a canvas that collects stories and experiences." i am so supportive of this simple yet brilliant idea and can't wait to get behind it with my fresh pair of white kicks. to participate just grab your shoes, get out there, get adventurous and curious, and share your experiences through the hashtag #theWhiteshoeproject

www.by-us.co/thewhiteshoeproject

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

The Hip Hostess Guide

during the holidays we often head off on little day trips to see family and friends for pre-or post Christmas celebrations. along with the visit we love to take something small as a  hostess gift. choosing something creative for a lad or lady doesn't have to be pricey and in fact some of the most cherished ones have been homemade.  here is a list of my 2013 favourites that we will surely be gifting this season!

1// A Rosemary Tree

2// St. Germaine Elderflower Liqueur

3// Copper Milk Warming Pot

4// Homemade Fresh Artisan Bread (recipe here)

5// Kate Spade Notebook & paired with a gold pen

6// Beeswax Candles

7// Homemade Fire Fragrance Log (recipe here)

Trending: Designer Landon Dix

if you haven't already heard of Landon Dix, you may just want to check this out before the holidays. recently i came across the newly revamped online shop/website and i can tell you right now that this has just become my go to store for more unique home accessories. when you just want something that has that ideal mix of sleek and a little retro, then Landondix is it! you can check out the his whole website here - www.landondix.net

the online shop offers everything from furniture, accessories, rope work and to lighting. you can find the perfect home decor item for yourself or someone you know. based in Vancouver founder and designer Landon Dix was inspired by his surroundings, and with a place like the Vancouver North Shore as your backyard how can you not feel inspired. be sure to check his website often because the ideas and success of this growing shop is just beginning! I would highly recommend that Landon is one designer to watch.  You also follow Landon on Facebook, or on Twitter too.

Upcoming Trends for 2014

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Worldwide colour authority and grandfather of consistency, Pantone, recently release it's Fashion Colour Report for Spring 2014 and these 10 above are the voted winners to watch out for. to those of you who might already follow colour trends you already know that Pantone release the colour of the year for 2013 which was Emerald.  for the spring report there is clearly a strong pairing between bright bold eye catching colours and softer more muted and delicate pastels. my personal favourite is by far the Hemlock choice. it's soft and fresh and just that little dab of retro that is so popular. we actually just painted our living room with this colour, not even knowing about this report, and i'm loving how this tone looks on a wall.  i know spring is still a few seasons away, but i'm already excited to see this colour palette hit the shelves, between home decor stores and fashion finds. which one is your favourite?

Traditional & Modern Turkey Day Tablescapes

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i'm hosting thanksgiving this year, which is really our first big attempt to have a bunch of family in our still relatively new home. we've also decided to test our culinary skills and barbeque the bird (all 17 pounds of it!). ok i'll admit i'm a little worried it actually won't fit on our barbeque, but at least that clears out my oven for other things. growing up i watched my mother take such great pride in setting the dining table for holiday family gatherings. as i got older i got more involved in helping her pick out the china and linens, and design creative centerpieces with flowers and gourds. sure some of this seems like fluff to some people, but even as i get older i still love that feeling of dusting off my handed down silverware and crystal glasses. i  believe that setting a festive table shouldn't be something that adds stress to your day, or even costs a whole lot. there are so many creative ideas  using what you already own in different combinations. but, to help anyone planning a thanksgiving feast this long weekend, here are two suggestions that include a traditional mix & match tablescape, and a more modern minimalistic option, both of which  won't break the bank!

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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?

Picnic Party

right now it is perfect picnic weather in the city. toronto has finally gotten a bit of a break from the melting heatwave making it actually enjoyable to frolic outside. this now makes me giddy for a picnic. the idea of dining alfresco with close friends, or my handsome better half, kicking off our shoes, eating brunch foods - which should always include glorious cheeses – while sitting under a tree sipping a minosa, is. the. best. i highly recommend making some picnic plans before the fall arrives. if you don't already have picnic fever, then here are a list of essentials to help you pull together the perfect picnic party. luckily you really don't need much and some of this you might already have. but,  if you want to do it in style, then here are a few pieces to get you feeling inspired.

1. Vintage Wicker Basket - Local Value Village

2. Tuffo Water- Resistant Indoor/Outdoor Blanket, Bed Bath & Beyond

3. Retro Fondue Plates, Etsy

4. Lighthouse Carafe, Drake General Store

5. Paper Straws, Urban Outfitters

6. Distinctly Home Printed Cloth Napkins, The Bay

7. Crosley Songbird Radio Speaker, Urban Outfitters

8. Colour Block Picnic Utensils, Anthropologie

The Cronut Craze

i'm always on the hunt for new trends and recently in the world of food hybrid eating seems to be where it is at. there is a lot of buzz right now around fusion food which means taking two basic things and merging them into one new creation. for example the muggel (a muffin/bagel), a waggle (waffle/bagel), a muffle (waffle/muffin), a townie (tart/brownie) or a crapjack (croissant/flapjack). sure all this might seem like a good idea at the time of invention, but some of these i'm just not sure i could wrap my mouth around, until i heard about the cronut. it's a cross between a croissant and a donut. so. help. me. god. it's like my two favourite things had a secret love child. i am an avid donut fan, truth be known i'm actually not a dessert fan for the most part unless it's sorbet, ice cream or ... a donut. I will literally cut a b*** for a fresh off the line mouth watering, warm, exotic flavored donut. let me put it to you this way, my birthday cake last year as a donut cake – enough said. but recently i caught word of Dominique Ansel's bakery in Soho, NYC and his cronut craze. close your eyes and imagine soft, fluffy, sugary, buttery, zesty, glazed innovations ... need i go on? 

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because of the complicated nature to make these creations, the bakery is currently only producing approximately 200 a day ... pffffff ... because it's a 3 day process to make them (ah!ok!), and of course the lines for these handmade bites of heaven are just getting longer and longer as popularity takes hold. however from what I have heard, these cronuts are apparently worth the wait and i am seriously thinking of planning a weekend road trip to NYC to "test" this out in person. what do you think? anyone want to join?