Tonight’s post is a something a little bit different — I’m sharing my Sober September experience. September has always signified a fresh start for me, so I decided to completely cut out alcohol last month to help me refresh, reenergize and focus on setting goals for the rest of 2015. While I totally love wine and could never give it up permanently, I took September as an opportunity to reevaluate my relationship with alcohol and be ultra productive! If you’re curious about what I accomplished, or are thinking about trying a sober month yourself (Sober October has a nice ring to it!), check it out.
I absolutely love fall makeup, and transitioning into darker, richer shades. Fall colours are my favourite to wear! During September I rediscovered my favourite powder eyeshadows from Makeup Geek (who makes the best quality eyeshadows at any price point, but these just happen to be $6 each!). I picked up some new goodies from e.l.f. Cosmetics (another inexpensive brand with awesome products) and found a holy grail setting powder and some beautiful berry-toned blushes. I also found the perfect daytime berry lip. Let’s chat about fall beauty products!
CLIF ORGANIC TRAIL MIX BAR REVIEW
I’m all about healthy, on-the-go options, so when I heard about these Organic Trail Mix Bars from CLIF Bar, I was excited to try them. Granola bars often get a bad rap for being full of unhealthy ingredients and tons of sugar, so I was pleasantly surprised to learn that these trail mix bars were full of simple, clean, nourishing ingredients — and we all know I’m a big fan of trail mix! Today I’m chatting about 5 different flavours and giving you the run down on which ones I liked best (spoiler alert: they’re all pretty tasty!). These bars are dairy-free, gluten-free, vegetarian and vegan (although some of them do contain dairy-free dark chocolate) — all the things I love in a snack! They’re also 200 calories or less.
My September Soundtrack is full of grungy, alternative vibes. I’ve been listening to a lot of Alt Nation and XMU on Sirius XM, so a few of my picks are tunes I’ve heard on those channels. One track that stands out this month is Kurt Vile’s Pretty Pimpin — he has such a unique sound and the lyrics are really quirky. I’ve also been into the new CHVRCHES album, Every Eye Open. This is an easy-going playlist, with lots of rock undertones — definitely a departure from last month’s soundtrack. I hope you like it!
PEPPERED PEAR ELIXIR
Since I haven’t been drinking this month (I’m doing a Sober September), I’ve been inspired to step up my juicing game! I seem to come up with the most unique flavour combinations when I’m trying to use things up around the kitchen — that’s how my Peppered Pear Elixir was born. We had a couple of peppers, pears and celery stalks that were on their last days, so I decided to throw them into a juice, along with a few other ingredients I had kicking around. The result is a sweet n’ spicy, aromatic juice brimming with a medley of awesome detoxifying ingredients. Enjoy this elixir on a fall morning while Bartlett pears are in season, and kick-start your day!
Have you ever seen natural tree stump side tables in your favourite home decor stores and thought “Hey, I bet I could make that!”? Me too — so I did! Today I’m showing you how we made our very own Natural Tree Stump Side Table! I mentioned earlier this summer that I’ve been obsessed with natural wood textures and was lusting after a side table very similar to this one (which retails at $249 at West Elm). I always prefer to make things myself rather buying them, because you’re able to create exactly the look you like at a fraction of the cost. I promise it’s simple to do, and you can make it in a weekend (seriously!).
I’ve followed Pantone for colour inspiration my entire career. If you have no idea what I’m talking about — Pantone is the global colour authority for creative industries. They provide a colour system that ensures colour translates accurately across all mediums — whether it be in fashion, print, or in design. Creatives also look to them to predict colour trends. Basically, they know what’s up — and they keep everyone in the loop!
Every year, usually in early December, they announce their colour of the year — and for 2015 it’s Marsala! Marsala has a variety of shades and interpretations, all equally gorgeous. Pantone describes Marsala as ‘a subtly seductive shade, one that draws us in to its embrace warmth’ and ‘like the fortified wine that gives Marsala its name, this tasteful hue embodies the satisfying richness of a fulfilling meal while its grounding red-brown roots emanate a sophisticated, natural earthiness’. Pantone also cites is as ‘flattering against many skin tones, sultry and subtle Marsala is a great go-to
color for beauty’. I couldn’t agree more! Marsala lips are everywhere this fall, so today I’m sharing my six favourite Marsala lipsticks in a variety of shades, finishes and price points. Are you ready to embrace this years biggest colour trend?