SLOANE TEA MACARONS AND ALL THINGS PRETTY

Some days you don't really have a blog topic or a need to share anything personal. Some days you just want to look at some pretty pictures and enjoy a cup of tea..while having a macaron or two! Today seems like one of those days for me. The last two months have been really hectic for me, being a Doctor I pretty much work for myself, so tax season is just not fun. Having to deal with expense reports, and accountants and paying too much money to the government (argh!), has kept me super busy lately. Plus our little downtown experiment of loft living is over, so we moved back end of April, which meant lots of packing and then a lot of unpacking! I feel like March and April just took too much of my time that I completely neglected my blog! I am trying to start again..let's hope I keep it up! Until then enjoy the pretty pictures guys :)

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BEAUTY DIARIES: SPRING TIME BEAUTY FAVES

We are finally seeing some the signs of Spring. Temps are above zero and the snow is slowly melting. Beautiful sunshine, and longer days means I am gearing up for spring! I love that spring time smell in the air, when everything feels fresh and everything that was gray and brown is now full colour. So, I have started dreaming about spring already and picking some of my favorite spring beauty faves! It is no secret that I love feminine fragrances, and pretty blushes. I have complied a list below to help you find the exact items and get ready for the wonderful weather!

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Dior Miss Dior Eau de Toilette Spray-NO COLOUR-50 ml

Yves Saint Laurent Blush Volupte-BLUSH HEART OF LIGHT 01-One Size

Givenchy Dahlia Noir Eau De Toilette Spray-NO COLOUR-50 ml

Dior Creme De Rose-PINK-One Size

Guerlain Meteorites Perles de Blush Angelic Radiance-MULTI-One Size

Nars Blush-DESIRE-One Size

Armani Si Eau de Parfum-NO COLOUR-30 ml

Dior Diorlisse Ridge Filler-PETAL PINK-One Size

Philosophy amazing grace perfumed shampoo bath and shower gel-NO COLOUR-One Size 

VALENTINES DAY GIFT GUIDE

I know it is only January, but Valentine's day is fast approaching! So I have picked a few V-day inspired gifts for your loved one..but, really, I just picked out the stuff you might want to get for yourself! I have to confess I usually don't wait until my hubby gets me something, if I love it..I am going to buy it in the name of Valentines day. Hey..why not right..as I say girls "treat yo' self!"

DIY - OVENBAKED CLAY DISHES FOR THANKSGIVING

When The Society Co asked me to contribute a DIY for their fabulous lifestyle site, I was so excited to come up with something fun and festive. I decided to do a clay dish DIY, which I had seen a while ago but I wanted to add my own touch to it. Using metallic clay and creating leaf shaped dishes, it turned out even better than what I could have imagined! So enjoy!

Materials

1. Oven bake clay from Michael's

2. Cookie cutters

3. Rolling Pin

4. Sharp craft knife (optional)

5. Gold leaf pen or gold paint (optional)
6. Oven

1. Unwrap the clay and roll it with a rolling pin. It is a bit stiff the beginning but becomes easier to roller after a few seconds of rolling

2. Using your desired size cookie cutter, cut the shape out

3. With your fingers slowly bend the edges to make the dish shape

4. This is what the final product should look like

Now repeat with as many colors as you like.  As I was doing this project, I realized I had bits of clay scraps left over. Not wanting to waste any clay, I combined all the scraps and made it into a ball and repeated steps 1 to 4. 

Result - something even prettier than I could have imagined!



After making a few clay dishes, I decided to try something a little advanced (but not to worry if you mess up, roll up the clay and begin again!)

1. Roll out one large piece of clay
2. Using a sharp craft knife draw a leaf
3. Cut away the access - which can be used to make more color combinations
4. Using your fingers roll up the edges
5. Final product -Leaf dishes!

Once done, pre-heat the oven to 230 F (or as stated on  your clay packaging). Let cool for half an hour. Then embellish with the Gold leaf pen, or gold paint.

 
I love how the clay dishes from the different colors turned out. Beautiful gold and copper dishes mixed with orange and pink; they are great for displaying jewelry, party favors, candle holders or even simply as decor around the house. I hope you enjoyed this DIY, because it is easy and can be done in any color imaginable. (You can even get glittered clay for the kids!)

My Favourite Fragrances

Today I give you some of my favorite perfumes. Up until this year I was never really been into perfumes. Only perfume I ever used was Clinique "Happy", only because I recieved a sample of it about 15 years ago. It is just a unique fragrance I fell in love it right away and I still love it. After "Happy", I tried "Happy Heart". The more floral fragrance and well that's about it...until this year! I seemed to have fallen in love with perfumes.
I dress mostly in black but I love all things feminine. The smell of flowers, pretty pink hues, I give you my favorite feminine perfumes.

First, my husband got me subtle floral fragrance from Coach (he knows me so well!), then I tried the Dior Blooming Bouquet and I simply had to have it! The color, the packaging, the essence of spring in a bottle..I couldn't resist! Being in love with Baies (candle) by Diptyque, it only makes sense that I would fall in love with L'Ombre dans l'Eau..it is the most intoxicating fragrance, yet so natural. It is as if I walked in the most beautiful gardens in Paris. Sticking to my floral obsession I love the Roses et Reines by L'Occtaine. The vintage feel of the bottle is what drove me to try it, and subtle mix of roses is as girly as you get. Last but not the least, Jo Malone Peony & Blush suede. The sweet peony smell is long lasting and I get so many compliments every time I use it! I bought a smaller size just so I could throw it in my purse and always have it with me!


Happy//Happy Heart//Miss Dior Blooming Bouquet//Miss Dior//L'Occtaine Roses//L'Ombre dans l'Eau//Jo Malone Peony & Blush Suede

Review: Megan Hess Illustration

I recently purchased this stunning book called "The Fashion House" by Megan Hess.  I didn't know much about Megan Hess or her work.,but I did, however, followed her on Instagram without even realizing it! Her work is simply amazing. When I picked up this book in the store, I thought to myself..how fun! Beautiful illustrations, fashion inspired decor I thought I would make a great coffee table book. Little did I know I wasn't going to be able to put it down! I have it next to my bed now. It is almost like my bedtime read, or just a fun way to spend an hour flipping through it while sipping my Chai tea. If you love fashion, decor or art, this book is for you. Beautiful illustraions, rooms designed and dissected to make decor easy. I am already thinking holiday season, and this book would make a great present for any woman out there who has a fabulous taste. And if they don't, this book might just change that!

SILVER LININGS..

Funny, I started this blog in the middle of winter, right after the big Ice Storm of Toronto. Which was a total nightmare to be honest, and here we stand 5 months later finally experiencing some much needed change in the weather. When I started my blog, I figured I would talk about my travels and share my love for Home decor, but this past winter changed everything! Having nothing pretty or scenic to photograph outside (I mean how many diff ways can I photograph snow?).. I don't live Downtown or next to the lake so scenery around me is pretty bland, which lead me to create beauty around me, hence all the "pretty" posts. I must say if this winter wasn't so brutal I wouldn't have bothered learning "indoor" photography, which is a challenge like no other. It seems there is never enough light no matter how many windows you have. Having to shoot at optimal hours is also a must. But anyway, I am thankful to the winter of 2014 as it taught me a whole new skill, but I am also not sad to see it go because these beautiful Magnolia Blossoms will always win my heart! I will carry on with my "Pretty" posts, but here I share with you Spring in Toronto!

Pretty little things..

Hope everyone had a wonderful weekend. I, as I predicted on Friday, had a busy one! But all is calm again and I share with you my latest experiment. I have always loved pink, but kind of kept it a secret. I don't wear much pink and there is no pink around the house either, but with all things spring I feel I can get away with immersing myself in Pink without being called "girly". This gives me chance to openly display my love for this colour and it feels great!

I am a tea addict, and I am always looking for ways to make it as pretty as I can. I mean why not right, this is one moment I have to myself and I want to make it as pleasing to my eye as possible..so of course I would do it with a lot of Pink!

My husband laughed when I told him that I bought "Pink Himalayan Salt"..to be honest more for the colour than anything! It is the prettiest shade of blush. It does come ground up or in solid form seen above. And best of all, it comes with the cutest little grater to grind the solid chunks! 

This beautiful flower is actually the lid to the a lovely candle I bought from Anthropologie. Not only it smells heavenly but once the candle has run out, you are left with a blush and white ceramic container..win win!

If you asked me to pick my favorite item from the picture above, I really couldn't tell you..I am totally in love with all of them..

Blush roses.. *sigh*

So here it..my girliest shoot yet and I love it! It is difficult as we try to be everything at once, and try to make things "others" will approve but it is nice to be honest with yourself sometimes so you can get true joy out of things you really love.

Tea Mug: Anthropologie| Square dishes: Urban Barn| Ceramic Candle: Anthropologie| Paris Calendar: Anthropologie via Anna Bond| Himalayan Salt: Homesense 

TRAVEL DIARIES: : COLOUR-BLOCKED LISBON

As promised yesterday, nothing but colour! I took these pictures a while back during my trip to Lisbon, Portugal. I loved the famous tile facades but it was by luck I spotted these gorgeous buildings. It was in the area of Belem, famous for the Belem cafe, the University, museums, piers and of course the Belem Tower. We we walking along Av. India when I saw all these colours and as usual ran towards them with my camera. I couldn't believe the beauty and I love when people are daring enough to choose bold colours. Can you imagine blue, pink, purple, orange and mixed with natural greens..what a stunning view. I have to be honest though I never did find out what these buildings were but I did bring back a little part of Belem with me.

Pictures below are from a resting station from our bus ride from Lisbon to Seville. I couldn't believe this was a real place. Gorgeous spring sunlight, and crisp colours of the station, it seemed a like a movie set.

A lilac Hotel. Enough said. These pictures remind me of "The Grand Budapest Hotel". What a lovely thought that these stunning buildings do exist outside of  the Hollywood sets.

Well until spring finally decides to visit us this year I will simply admire these colourful beauties..hope you liked em too.