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6 Wedding Hair Ideas

October 6, 2015

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On the big day, my hair was, what some might consider to be, well, a bit on the boring side.  Down and parted down the middle with an everyday curl, just as I always wear it.  I wanted to feel like myself and I know that my usual signature look is comfortable and photographs well.  It was a safe bet, but it was the perfect way to add a casual element to my otherwise fancy attire.  No regrets, but since I went for something so basic, I teamed up with my crazy talented wedding hair stylist Nadia Bullock, to create some other bridal hair looks to possibly inspire.  And hey, it’s always fun to see what could have been!

There are some absolutely stunning hairstyles below, ones that I know you or your stylist could easily re-create.  These are obviously done on very thick, long brunette hair, so if you’re working with a different texture or length, please leave any questions in the comment section below.  It’s tough to choose, but the elegant half up is probably my favourite.  Next time I get married, I’ll definitely be rocking that look 😉  Which one is your favourite of the bunch?

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Beauty

Home Pedicure + Giveaway

July 7, 2015

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Is there anything worse than gross feet?  I think NOT!  And tis’ the season to sport those gorgeous summer sandals, so it’s important to make sure your exposed feet are just as cute as your footwear.  I’ve personally inherited really dry and cracked heels (thanks mom) and was even lectured at my last salon pedicure about the state of my skin.  We’re at the point where just moisturizing won’t cut it.  Plus, who can afford to constantly be going to the salon?!  Not this girl.  Thank goodness for Dr. Scholls Express Pedi for a little at home smoothing treatment.  This little wonder gets rid of that unwanted dry skin and makes a home pedicure super simple.  Scroll down for a mini how-to and a chance to win an Express Pedi for yourself!

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Beauty

Summer Hair Story with TRESemmé

June 1, 2015
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I’ve always loved summertime, especially when it comes to hair styles. Having such a thick and sometimes out of control mane, I live for the days when my hair dries twice as fast! I’ve teamed up with TRESemmé to help make sure your 2015 summer hair story is the best one yet! Keep up on instagram as well as via #SummerHairStory, and enjoy a few tutorials below. From those long days at the beach, to festival-worthy boho waves, and glamorous curls, this summer hair story is sure to have a happy ending!

 Beach Waves // TRESemmé Sea Salt Spray

 This is my summer go-to. With its naturally ‘confused’ texture, somewhere between straight and curly, my hair tends to just take on whatever form I give it. The last few years, my mane has really embraced its natural waviness and with the help of a sea salt spray I’m able to achieve those beachy waves. If you also have multiple personality hair, or already wavy/curly hair, then this look is for you! I apply the TRESemmé Sea Salt Spray to damp hair and then use my hands to scrunch the product in. Some people diffuse to dry, but that turns my hair into a giant afro of frizz, so I just let things dry on their own, using my hands to occasionally scrunch/toss it.

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Boho Waves // TRESemmé Wave Creation Sea Foam  

A perfect casual curl, I love boho waves for everyday.  I worked the TRESemmé Wave Creation Sea Foam through my damp hair and then did a rough blowdry on high heat (meaning I used my hands to toss and flip the hair around so it doesn’t dry with a set part).  Using a curling wand, randomly select small sections of hair to wrap around the wand.  My hair is really long right now, so sometimes I need to move the wand downwards with the same section of hair.  I didn’t curl every single piece, which helps create that more natural boho feel.  I then ran my fingers through my hair and finished it off with hairspray.
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Glam Curls // TRESemmé  Ultra-Brushable Hairspray

Sometimes, all it takes to be that extra bit glam is just changing your part!  To achieve something with a little more drama, do a rough blow dry, as mentioned above.  Then using a comb, find a side part that works for you and start curling with a flat iron.  This time, make sure to curl every piece and hold the flat iron on a downward angle for added curl.  Using the comb again, I then took sections of hair along the root and back combed for a little extra volume.  Spray the TRESemmé Ultra-Brushable Hairspray and gently brush out the curls.  I find it helps to curl/twist the curls with your hands after brushing it out so that it doesn’t lose the beautiful shape.

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Achieve the beautiful wavy styles you love! The new TRESemmé Perfectly (un)Done WavesTM collection with Sea  Kelp extract, infuses hair with texture for natural looking waves for an all over gorgeously (un)done wavy look.  Achieve effortless, natural looking Beach, Boho and Hollywood waves that last all day!  Discover the entire Perfectly (un)Done WavesTM collection at Tresemme.ca


This post was brought to you by TRESemmé via Mode Media Canada.  The opinions expressed herein are those of the author and are not indicative of the opinions or positions of TRESemmé.

Beauty

Review: Neutrogena Hydro Boost

May 18, 2015
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Skincare is honestly something that I’m trying really hard to be better about.  I’ve basically survived this first bit of my life relying solely on moisturizing 1-2 times daily and washing my makeup off with soap and water.  Though this has been sufficient up until this point, I’m well aware that I’ll only be able to get away with it for so much longer.  I’m VERY conscious of dry skin, especially on my face, which is often exacerbated by times of seasonal transition.  There’s also that whole aging thing to start considering, but let’s not get too crazy just yet!
The Neutrogrena Hydro Boost line is for those of us in pursuit of fresh, naturally beautiful skin.  Which is sooooo us, am I right?  This simple and effective line consists of an Eye Gel Cream, as well as two Hydro Boost Gel Creams, including one for extra dry skin (no fragrance or dyes, which is great for sensitive skin like mine).  Formulated with Hyurolonic Acid, these gels help your skin hold onto moisture and maintain that gorgeous, youthful glow!  
The instructions are to use after cleansing, which had the added benefit of forcing me to add regular cleaning so my skincare routine.   The gel itself is quite light and really quick-drying, which means that it can also work before my makeup application.  I really appreciate that the Neutrogena Hydro Boost gels don’t feel greasy and that they’re forcing me to realize that these small changes are necessary from now on.   As I’m trying to ease into things, I like using the Hydro Boost Gel Creams at nighttime and always wake up feeling fresh-faced and ready to take on the day!  If you’re looking for a new moisturizer, I definitely suggest that you give the Neutrogena Hydro Boost line a try.
Changes are a part of life and the ones that happen when you’re a young adult represent some of the biggest transitions. Our latest innovation: Hydro Boost gel creams for face and eye feature purified hyaluronic acid, instantly quenches and infuses skin with an abundance of moisture, so your skin will feel smooth and supple day after day. For more information, visit us at www.neutrogena.ca/hydroboost
Disclosure: This post was brought to you by Neutrogena® Canada via Mode Media Canada.  The opinions expressed herein are those of the author and are not indicative of the opinions or positions of Neutrogena® Canada.

Beauty

A Tale Of Transitions with Neutrogena – Part 1

April 27, 2015
2006 Throwback 
Partying in our early twenties/my days as a blonde
 I kind of feel like I woke up one day to discover that my twenties had flown by. Do you ever feel like that? Time can be such a tricky little thing. My mom says that she looks in the mirror expecting to see herself at 25 and is shocked by the 50-something-year-old woman who stares back at her. (Especially because she’d be quick to tell you she’s not a day past 49.) I never truly understood that until I entered my *cough* late twenties *cough*. Even now I can see and feel the changes that I’ve gone through both physically and mentally in just the last 10 years! I bring this up because you might remember that I was recently in Toronto on the set of something slightly mysterious. Well, it’s time to share that I, along with some other awesome Canadian bloggers, was working with Neutrogena on filming ‘A Tale Of Transitions’. The process that was actually more challenging than I thought it would be: we were given themes/topics and had to come up with a relevant story that was then told on camera on a most amazing, but intimidating set.
 

High School Throwback

Rocking an all denim dress in high school, as you do. 
 It was a BLAST being on camera. Like, hellooooo new career goals! But the most enjoyable parts were probably having to think back to days gone by and getting an opportunity to tell these old stories. For instance, one segment was titled “a tale of firsts”. I went back and forth about what stuck out most in my memory. I initially thought I might share a snippet of my terrible first kiss with a very handsome boy whom I had absolutely nothing in common with. I was fifteen (a late bloomer, okay?) and we were standing at the front door of my house saying goodbye. As I’d never had the experience of lip locking, or even this intimate a moment with a guy before, I didn’t know the warning sign of an imminent kiss. Right there, on the front porch, I had an awkward, slobbery mess of a smooch. As this terrible but life changing-moment was happening, my best friend’s dad and next door neighbour happened to be pulling into their driveway. The car’s headlights bathed us in an ironic spotlight that lasted long enough for him to witness this spit-filled teenage kiss. The next day, she revealed to me that she received an awkward sex talk that night from her father thanks to me. I honestly didn’t kiss anyone for at least a year after that, but at least my friend next door and I had something hilarious to laugh about for years. Where was I? Oh right, the tale of firsts. On camera, I ended up telling a funny story about the first place I moved out to. Oh the joys of being young. What first experience would you share?
 Not only is the footage of these old stories coming your way soon, but I am also testing out the Neutrogena Hydro Boost line! Can’t wait to tell you all about it, I really think you’re going to love the product, especially if you tend to have dry skin like I do. Stay tuned for a product review, coming your way soon!

 Changes are part of life and the ones that happen when you’re a young adult represent some of the biggest transitions.  Out latest innovation: Hydro Boost gel creams for face and eye features purified hyaluronic acid, it instantly quenches and infuses skin with an abundance of moisture, so your skin will feel smooth and supple day after day. For more information, visit us at www.neutrogena.ca/hydroboost or in french at www.neutrogena.ca/fr/hydroboost 

Disclosure: This post was brought to you by Neutrogena® Canada via Mode Media Canada. The opinions expressed herein are those of the author and are not indicative of the opinions or positions of Neutrogena® Canada.



Beauty

How To Achieve Hollywood Glam Curls

December 21, 2014
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I’ve always wanted to know how to vary my usual daytime curl and try something a little more glam for the holidays.  Thankfully my amazing friends (and Capital Q Creative client) at TRiM Hair Salon were here to help!  Not only did talented hair stylist Amy do a much needed chop, she even showed me how to achieve red carpet worthy curls!
What you’ll definitely need:
Two Kevin Murphy Medium Hair Curlers
Salon Curl Hair Clips
What you could also use:
AVEDA Phomollient Styling Foam
AVEDA Light Elements Smoothing Fluid

AVEDA Brilliant Finishing Gloss

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1. Towel dry that gorgeous mane of yours and and spray the AVEDA volumizing tonic around the hairline and everywhere at the root and parting line (approx. 8-10 sprays)

2. Take two pumps of AVEDA Phomollient foam and rake it through each side.  Then one more pump, rub into your hands, and scrunch into the root.

3. Flip your hair upside down and blow try underneath to give those roots some life (tossle/shaking at the roots).  Then blow dry everything else as you would normally, going off the face and smoothing out the ends with a paddle brush.

4. Then, we must find your Hollywood Glam part.  Aiming for a deeper side part (pupil to the crown) but totally up to your personal preference.

5. Section the top of the head to the top of the ear and clip together on both sides, as seen below.

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6. The hair at the back is really simple, we just need to curl the ends.  Work in small sections, and if you have frizzy hair like I do, you have the option of smoothing out the hair from the root and then curling the ends.
7. Once the back section is done, brush that out and leave the curled ends in your Kevin murphy curler(s) to chill while you figure out the front sections.

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8. Next, we must curl the triangle section (on the side with less hair) horizontally and set it with a hair clip (or bobby pin).  I required three curls/hair clips with my giant mufasa mane.

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9.  We make a small triangle at the very front for two curlers.  These are the most important, as they make the dramatic statement wave at the front.  For the best hold, I’d spray first with hairspray and brush out before curling each section.  Pin in place like you did in step eight.

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10. Just one section left!  Curl the rest of that section horizontally, just as your did on the other side.  Always curling away from the face, and set those as well.

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11. By now, it should look a little something like this:

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12. Let the clips/pins/whatever you’re using, set the curls for a bit.  Once everything has cooled down, carefully take each one out one by one.  It’ll look a bit like the below photo.
13.  Then, we must brush everything out with a large bristle brush as much as you’d like.  Don’t be scared about the curls being too tight, they will relax.
14.  Add some high shine syrum for good measure and there you have it!

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Thanks again to Amy and Sarah for this fun collab.  Be sure to keep up with TRiM Hair Salon on Instagram, Facebook, and even Twitter!  Plus, check out the sweet curly hair tutorial I shot and edited for them.  Enjoy, and let me know if you’re able to achieve those Hollywood Glam Curls this holiday season!

Beauty

4 Must Have Fall Lipsticks

November 18, 2014
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Best Fall Lipsticks

On that hunt for the perfect lip colour for fall.  Turns out that my favourite autumn shade is just $6 from London Drugs!  Product info and more in this quick beauty vlog:

Beauty

VLOG October Beauty Favourites

October 22, 2014
Whhhhhhat?!   A video blog?  This is the 90’s.  No seriously, I have been wanting to do these for years and never had the right equipment (even though I did end up just shooting this on the computer instead of with my DSLR – whateverrrr it was like 8 pm at the office and I wanted to go home).  It’s short and sweet and impromptu, but I hope you like it!

OH, and if you plan to enter the mentioned giveaway, you only have today to enter! xo