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Fashion, Giveaways, Jewelry, Local Love, Luxury, Sponsored, Spring, Summer

MY JOYDROP CALGARY JEWELRY COLLECTION

Jewelry lovers, I’m delighted to partner with one of my longtime favourite local brands to share My Joydrop Calgary Jewelry Collection! Over the course of my 6 year blogging career you’ve come along as my personal style has evolved significantly — and what a journey it’s been. As I’ve entered my mid-thirties, I’ve come to appreciate quality over quantity, the importance of materials and the joy in aligning myself with brands and businesses that share similar values. I’ve spent the past few years refining both my wardrobe and my JEWELRY collection — and have curated a lovely selection of meaningful, gold plated and vermeil pieces that comprise my signature style. My Joydrop pieces have remained an integral part of my core jewelry wardrobe — and this iconic, Calgary-based brand is my go-to destination whenever I’m looking to expand my collection.

As I relish in the process of refreshing my wardrobe each season, I always look forward to selecting a few new accessories to update my outfits and incorporate trends in an authentic way. So, I popped over to Joydrop‘s Market Mall location to shop my wishlist, browse their latest arrivals and explore new collections — where I also had the pleasure of being styled by founder Shashi Behl! Today I’m thrilled to share my updated Joydrop Calgary Jewelry Collection featuring six cornerstone pieces I have on rotation for Spring/Summer 2021 — along with styling ideas, an insight into key trends and a $150 International Giveaway (which has now closed) so you can refresh your jewelry wardrobe, too! Who’s ready to elevate their everyday style with some gorgeous new accessories you’ll cherish for years to come?

June 4, 2021 by Justine

Entertain, Giveaways, Local Love, Occasions, Wine & Cocktails, Winter

GILDED VANILLA PEAR SPARKLER

Happy New Years Eve Eve, craft COCKTAIL lovers! After a restful holiday vacation, I’m back today with a fresh cocktail recipe (and a fun giveaway) to help you send 2020 off in style! My Gilded Vanilla Pear Sparkler is a glitzy, French 75 inspired sparkling cocktail nuanced with an elegant seasonal flavour profile and premium ingredients (including Eau Claire Distillery’s 24 karat gold infused Christmas Gin!). Although this NYE in quarantine is unlike the celebrations of years past we’ve become accustomed to, that doesn’t mean it has to be any less glamorous or memorable — and if you’re looking for an NYE inspired sip to celebrate the end of a challenging year, I have just the recipe. I invite you to put your best suit or dress on, dust off your crystal and toast 2020’s departure (good riddance!) with me in the comfort of your own homes, JustineCelina style!

Inspired by all things glittering and gold, Eau Claire Distillery‘s Limited Edition Christmas Gin combines with Brut Prosecco, Italian vanilla liqueur, bright lemon juice and a stunning Honeyed Vanilla Pear Syrup where Bosc pears are poached in decadent Canadian honey alongside Tahitian vanilla extract. The result is an opulent, gold infused winter cocktail that’s equal parts creamy, crisp and refreshing — and it couldn’t be easier to mix up at home! To help spread some holiday cheer, I’ve partnered with Eau Claire Distillery to give away a full sized bottle of Christmas Gin and 2 coupe glasses to one of my Canadian friends — you’ll find details on how to enter near the bottom of the post (this giveaway has now closed). Cheers to a brighter 2021!

December 30, 2020 by Justine

Beauty, Cruelty Free, Drugstore, Giveaways, Gluten Free, Makeup, My Top 5, Natural Products, Reviews, Sponsored, Spring, Summer, Vegan

MY TOP 5 PHYSICIANS FORMULA PRODUCTS

Beauty lovers, I’m absolutely elated to partner with Physicians Formula today to bring you a fresh instalment in MY TOP 5 series — My Top 5 Physicians Formula Products! Longtime readers will know I’ve featured and worn Physicians Formula products here at JustineCelina for the duration of my blogging career — but my love for the brand actually extends all the way back to my teenage years. You see, I’ve always had very sensitive skin and eyes — and Physicians Formula was one of the first makeup brands I discovered at the drugstore that actually worked for me when I started wearing makeup. Over the years, as my love of BEAUTY (and my makeup collection!) have grown dramatically, Physicians Formula has remained one of my favourite drugstore brands. Having the opportunity to work with them over the past few months (come join me on Instagram to see the other campaigns we’ve created together!) is such a full circle moment and a truly dream come true. I couldn’t be more excited to extend our partnership to the blog today as I share My Top 5 Physicians Formula Products across eye, lip and complexion categories — along with a general overview of the brand and a massive beauty giveaway (which has now closed), to provide you with the opportunity to try my favourite products, too!

Here at JustineCelina, I’m passionate about living (and promoting) at healthy lifestyle that’s attainable. A clean, plant-based diet free of dairy, gluten and refined sugar helps me manage numerous intolerances and sensitivities while also helping me look and feel my best — and whenever possible, I look for these qualities in my cosmetics as well. That said, I’m not willing to sacrifice performance at the cost of a healthy ingredients list — and Physicians Formula is my go-to brand for high-performing, natural, hypoallergenic beauty products at an accessible price point. Although it was difficult to narrow it down to just 5 for today’s post (and I may have cheated a bit!), these products remain at the core of my beauty routine year after year, as trends come and go. With all the time I’ve spent at home lately, I’m simply not drawn to anything that isn’t comfortable or effortless these days — be in it my wardrobe, my beauty routine or my creative work. Over the past 20+ years I’ve relied on Physicians Formula for comfortable, clean, beautifully formulated products that make me feel like the best, most confident version of myself — and I can’t wait to share My Top 5 Physicians Formula Products with you!

June 20, 2020 by Justine

Entertain, Flowers, Giveaways, Local Love, Pantone, Spring, Wine & Cocktails

HONEYED SASKATOON CHERRY GIMLET

After what has undoubtedly been the longest month of my life, I know one thing for sure… I need a stiff drink! Who’s with me?! Each March, I eagerly await Spring Equinox and typically celebrate its arrival with the publication of a fresh, seasonally inspired cocktail — but March 2020’s events really threw my editorial calendar for a loop. Although this recipe is publishing a bit later than I had originally intended, I can assure you it’s been tested to perfection — in fact, there was rarely an evening that passed this month when I didn’t find myself shaking up a Honeyed Saskatoon Cherry Gimlet (if you follow along with my Instagram Stories, you can attest to this!). This cocktail highlights Eau Claire Distillery’s recently re-released Saskatoon Honey Gin — and I’ve teamed up with them give away a full sized bottle (along with a few other goodies!) to one of my Canadian friends to help lift your spirits and keep your home bars stocked!

Gin lovers, I’m thrilled to share my Honeyed Saskatoon Cherry Gimlet recipe with you today — a refreshingly spirited, 4 ingredient spring cocktail inspired by doing the best you can with what you have, where you are. The best part? If you have a well-stocked bar, you likely already have all of the ingredients on hand (and if not, I’ve included links to where you can purchase them to help support local businesses during this challenging time)! This simple but perfectly balanced craft cocktail combines Saskatoon Honey Gin with Honey Simple Syrup, cherry bitters and freshly squeezed lime juice shaken over ice — and can be prepared with ease by home bar beginners and skilled mixologists alike. Bring the cocktail bar to the comfort of your own home this spring with my Honeyed Saskatoon Cherry Gimlet — a quintessentially Albertan twist on a classic gin cocktail! Cheers, friends — and best of luck to those entering the giveaway!

March 30, 2020 by Justine

Dairy Free, Entertain, Giveaways, Occasions, Vegetarian, Wine & Cocktails, Winter

HOMEMADE DAIRY FREE COCONUT RUM EGGNOG

Happy winter solstice, beautiful people! I’m back today with my Homemade Dairy Free Coconut Rum Eggnog — a festive holiday beverage that’s been in my family for decades, but has recently undergone a contemporary, plant-based makeover! I have so many cherished memories of our neighbours making this eggnog for everyone on our country road to enjoy on Christmas Eve (it never lasted long!). Unfortunately, over the years as I developed a dairy sensitivity I was no longer able indulge — that is, until last holiday season! I decided it was about time to give my favourite eggnog recipe a clean, dairy-free makeover by swapping milk and heavy creams with coconut-based alternatives, regular eggs for the free-run, local, farm-fresh variety, table sugar with 100% pure Canadian maple syrup, spiced rum for Eau Claire Distillery’s seasonal, Limited Edition Gin Rummy, infusing our homemade eggnog with cinnamon sticks and topping it off with decedent dark chocolate shavings. As always, this festive cocktail is free of dairy, gluten and refined sugar — and has become my favourite healthier holiday indulgence!

We actually perfected this recipe last holiday season (who remembers the Stories?!) shortly after I discovered Eau Claire Distillery (I’ve since used almost every single spirit they make in my COCKTAILS!). During our lazy, cozy days in the country between Christmas and New Years Eve, I took a trip to the visit their distillery in Turner Valley with my Mom (who loves gin) and my brother (who was home from New York and loves cocktails) for a tour and tasting — and that’s where my love affair with these incredible, farm-to-glass, artisinal spirits began. For their Christmas presents, my Mom and brother chose a bottle of their favourite spirit, on me. Gin Rummy was Jared’s spirit of choice — a unique, wintery, gin-meets-rum remix boasting warm notes of winter spice with a botanical, herbaceous backdrop. It was actually this limited edition spirit that inspired the makeover of our favourite holiday eggnog recipe — as soon as it hit my lips, I knew it was the missing ingredient! As we enjoyed the second batch of experimental eggnog for New Years Eve, my family confessed they actually liked it better than the original version — and that’s when I knew I had to share our update Homemade Dairy Free Coconut Rum Eggnog with you! To celebrate our one year anniversary and thank you for your support this year, I’ve teamed up with Eau Claire Distillery to give away a bottle of Limited Edition Gin Rummy, along with a Tour & Tasting for 2 at Turner Valley’s Eau Claire Distillery (check out the bottom of this post for details on how to enter!). Cheers and happy holidays!

December 21, 2018 by Justine

Entertain, Fall, Giveaways, Local Love, Occasions, Wine & Cocktails

LATE HARVEST SPICED APPLE SANGRIA

I bet you thought I’d abandoned sangria for COCKTAILS, didn’t you? Although sangria was definitely my first love, as I’ve dived deeper into recipe development and mixology here at JustineCelina, my foray into cocktailing over the past 3.5 years was something I never would have predicted (I’m a huge wino and I thought I’d always prefer wine based libations to cocktails!). I’ve published just about every type of sangria recipe you can think of on these pages, incorporating red wine, white wine, rosé and prosecco — you’d think I’d have my bases covered by now, right? Nope. I’ve always wanted to create an autumnal sangria incorporating October’s beautiful BC apples and late harvest wine, but could never find the right spirit to bring it to life — that is, until now! Enter Eau Claire Distillery‘s newest limited edition offering, Apple Brandy. This seasonally inspired spirit is infused with orchard fresh Okanagan apples and the essence of warm French oak — and I knew it would be the perfect ingredient to elevate my Late Harvest Spiced Apple Sangria with handcrafted flair and character!

Just in time for Canadian Thanksgiving, I’m thrilled to bring you a fresh sangria recipe inspired by changing leaves, cozy knits, brisk autumn evenings and celebrating this beautiful life with family and friends! My Late Harvest Spiced Apple Sangria combines late harvest riesling with Eau Claire’s Apple Brandy, freshly pressed apple cider and ginger beer with a sweet and spicy trio of Okanagan apples, fresh ginger and cinnamon sticks to infuse this comforting, apple-centric sangria with autumnal warmth. In the spirit of the season to thank you for all your support this year, I’ve teamed up with Eau Claire Distillery, Calgary Farmer’s Market and Rocky Mountain Food & Wine Festival to create the Ultimate Local Foodie Giveaway — including a bottle of limited edition Apple Brandy, 50 Farmers Market Bucks so you can shop for everything you need to recreate this sangria at home while supporting our local farmers and attend Calgary’s premiere food and wine festival, on me (check out the bottom of this post for entry deets!). Wishing all of my Canadian friends the happiest of Thanksgivings — I’m so grateful for each and every one of you!

October 5, 2018 by Justine

Flowers, Giveaways, Local Love, Pantone, Summer, Vegetarian, Wine & Cocktails

JAPANESE LILAC GIN LEMONADE

I’m not really sure what’s happened — but this year, my love of cocktails is outshining my love of sangria (hey… no hard feelings sangria — we had a really good run!). I’ve also been dreaming of publishing a lavender lemonade for years — but funny enough, it’s never made it’s way onto these pages. I had the most delicious lavender lemonade the summer before I started blogging at some small town in interior British Columbia on our way back from a music festival — and I’ve been determined to create an equally delicious lavender lemonade ever since! That said, I know there are tons of lavender lemonade recipes out there, but now that I have a few solid years of COCKTAIL development under my belt and some incredible, unique, delicious ingredients in my bar, I thought I’d give it a go this summer!

So, while I fully intended this recipe to be a vodka-based lavender lemonade, as I moved though a rather intense testing process (remember when I mentioned I was cocktail testing over the long weekend?), I ended up swapping lavender for lilacs and vodka for gin — and I’m so glad I did! My Japanese Lilac Gin Lemonade tastes like summertime in the country and is very near to my heart — incorporating Japanese Lilac blossoms from the tree at my childhood home in rural Alberta, honey from the hives just across the stream and Eau Claire Distillery‘s award winning Parlour Gin distilled from the flourishing barley crops and unique botanicals of Alberta’s prairies. This floral-kissed, lightly effervescent lemonade was created with a thoughtful, hand crafted, farm-to-glass approach and made for lazy summer days on the patio, easy entertaining and watching the sunset behind glowing fields of canola! Join myself and my Connecting Over Cocktails crew to indulge in a summer inspired cocktail menu (check out their creations at the end of this post!) and enter to win bottle of the best gin I’ve ever tasted, along with a Tour & Tasting for 2 at Turner Valley’s Eau Claire Distillery (giveaway now closed)! Cheers to hot summer nights, refreshing gourmet cocktails and the celebrating the bountiful offerings of this beautiful land!

July 15, 2018 by Justine

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