Lash Out! 3 Easy Tools to Get a Natural Eyelash Look

It's fair to say that I need a little help in the lash department. Not blessed with the beautiful full lashes unlike my boyfriend, mine are sparse, somewhat blonde, and are directionally challenged (cross-over one another). So when Tweezerman Canada sent over an arsenal of beauty tools to try, I immediately jumped on the lash tools and tested them out. I found that three simple beauty tools were all I needed to create a natural, yet enhanced, eyelash look and I've shared them with you here!

ProCurl Lash Curler - Designed with unique control, this next-generation, professional-quality eyelash curler’s sleek body-shape with large opening is crafted to exceed the standards and performance of any other curler on the market today.

Folding ILashcomb - The perfectly spaced, gold plated metal teeth glide through lashes to remove excess mascara, leaving your lashes looking long, lovely and clump-free.

Eyenhance Pencil and Sharpener - The dual-ended pencil features both a universal brow color Brow Pencil and Highlighter that work together to create perfectly shaped luminous brows and eyes.

I love quality products and Tweezerman has proven to me time and again that their products are long lasting and well worth the money. Beauty tools like the Folding ILashcomb which is made of gold-plated metal teeth, and not plastic teeth, are likely to last longer in your beauty bag when compared to other products. In addition to their durability, these three simple beauty tools are easy to use and help me to achieve a natural beauty look.  

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Step Up The Fancy: Stopping to Smell the Tulips on Bloor Street

A former boss taught me a simple lesson once which was to always "Step Up The Fancy" in my work. I was encouraged to take my work to the next level to set myself apart from the crowd and to elevate my skills. I've decided to apply this message to other parts of my life, meaning that I will strive to do things that are a little more special whenever I can. Whether it's spending a lazy Saturday afternoon with a picnic at the beach, or venturing to a different part of the city to experience vintage shopping for the first time, I hope to put in extra effort to shake up my routine, travel off the beaten path and to find enjoyment in the simple things in life. 

| Shirt: Brooks Brothers Non-Iron Fitted Dress Shirt | Pant: Joe Fresh Crop Pant | Bag: Escada | Shoes: L.K. Bennett |

Stepping up the fancy need not be expensive or posh, rather, I will take every effort to do things that are out of the ordinary, where I am more present in the moment and appreciative of the new experience in front of me. 

| Belt: Mossimo Supply Co. Thread Braid Tri Color Belt from Target | Scarf: Louis Féraud (vintage) |

 This week I ventured to Yorkville to stop and smell the tulips. There's a beautiful thing that happens to Bloor Street in the Spring - the flower beds that line the street overflow with tulips. The tulips are planted in what appears to be in perfect tight rows and give the street an extra dose of polish. For a moment, you forget that you are on Bloor Street in Toronto, and you feel like you are standing on Park Avenue in New York City. 

I met a friend for dinner at La Société after admiring the tulips and I couldn't help but snap a few pics. I started off dinner on an open patio overlooking Bloor Street with a glass of prosecco. Bubbly is such a simple pleasure because it gives me cause to celebrate something, even if no standard celebrations are due. I ordered the roasted sea scallops which were tender, cooked slightly translucent on the inside, with a caramel coloured sear marks on the top and bottom. They were accompanied by boudin noir and caramalized apples.

 After fully enjoying the meal, I discovered that boudin noir translates to 'blood sausage' - a food of which, up until this point I had been completely fearful! Perhaps, sometimes you learn things about yourself (and your likes) unknowingly, that you wouldn't otherwise discover. 

I hope to write about a new way in which I Step Up The Fancy in my life each week. Please share your experiences, or things for me to try, by leaving a comment below! 

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Dagg & Stacey Studio Sale

Here are three things I love: effortless style, sustainable fabrics and sales.  This Friday through Saturday, Toronto clothing brand, Dagg & Stacey is offering a studio sale! There will be items from the fanciful and oh-so-ladylike Spring/Summer 2013 collection and also items from past collections at up to 70% off. 

 If you are looking for something to do this weekend and also love a good sale (like I do!) then pop over to the Studio Sale and have fun perusing the racks of pieces characterised by casual feminity.

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It's all About Florals at the Toronto Flower Market

Still coming off of the gorgeous spring-comme-summer weekend that we just enjoyed in Toronto? Me too. So much so, in fact, that I'm looking forward to the next one. What's even better is that there's a great event hitting Toronto for a number of weekends this summer and it starts this Saturday. You want to know what it is? 

 The Toronto Flower Market will bring Ontario greenhouse grown fresh-cut, potted and bedded flowers to the ultra urban, industrial 99 Sudbury event space. I can just see it playing out in my mind now - a valley of vibrant flowers and potted plants amidst polished concrete floors and Torontonians eager to shop local. 

Whether you live in the west-end, the east-end, uptown or out of town, the Toronto Flower Market promises a colourful, and fragrant, experience that is surely to be as good as Bailey's is to Saturday morning coffee. Luckily for you, the market will offer a cafe with a selection of fine beverages, including hot and iced coffees and cappuccinos, as well as an assortment of tasty fresh-baked treats (no promises on the Bailey's, though!).

The Toronto Flower Market at 99 Sudbury will run from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on the following dates:

• Saturday, May 11 - see you there this Saturday! 
• Saturday, June 8
• Saturday, July 13
• Saturday, August 10
• Saturday, September 14

For more details, visit www.TorontoFlowerMarket.ca.

I plan on getting my Mum some fresh cut flowers from the Toronto Flower Market this coming Saturday. Hope to see you there!

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City Vacation Essentials

I've been doing a lot of day dreaming recently. Day dreaming about what dresses I'd wear as a guest at a summer wedding and now, thanks to my friend and his preparation for a week long trip to Paris, I'm dreaming of what I'd pack for a city getaway. 

For me, part of the fun of going on vacation is in the preparation. I usually buy a couple of things in advance of my trip and in dreaming up a city escape to Paris where there would be lots of sight-seeing, I came up with this list of sensible must-haves for a touristy city vacation. 

A good place to start for any city vacation in the summer is to pack a comfortable dress in a lightweight material. I like this 2x1 Racer Back Dress by Splendid because it's simple and could be worn multiple times throughout a trip. For me, I'm all about maximizing the wearability of items that I pack. 

As much as I would love to stomp around a city in my best Jimmy Choo's, it's not going to happen. Comfortable, and stylish shoes are essential for full days of exploring the city on foot. I've been eyeing these navy loafers by ECCO not only because they look uber comfy, but because they come in a range of vibrant colours. 

An oversized scarf in a lightweight material is an essential cover up for chilly evenings enjoyed over dinner on a patio or as a make shift blanket for impromptu picnics in the park. For these reasons, keep your scarf easy and inexpensive like this reasonably priced linen scarf by Nordstrom. 

A new pair of sunglasses seems like a pre-city vacation must-have - need I say more? This pair from Warby Parker are just darling and at a price point that is just right.

I always feel like a need a cool denim jacket every time I go on a city vacation. They are easy to stuff into a carry-all bag and won't wrinkle on the way out, they are pretty much a staple of 'easy cool' in most cities, and they are, for the most part, relatively inexpensive. I love this denim jacket in Storm Cloud wash by Madewell. 

A vacation (and everyday) tip that I learnt from my sister is to always carry a water bottle. You may end up spending a portion of your trip money purchasing disposable water bottles when you could be spending it on cool experiences. Of course, depending on what city you're visiting, bottled water may be an essential. But if tap water is fine, then find a cool bottle like this silicone covered glass bottle by BKR and stay hydrated. 

Finally, but maybe most importantly, you need to have a good carry-all bag. It's likely that if you're exploring a place like say, I dunno, New York City, that you won't make it back to your hotel for frequent shopping bag drops. So, you need to carry a good bag that's comfortable, can fit some shopping wins, and is cute. The Weekender Bag by Kate Spade's new line, Saturday, has multiple hidden compartments, a long detachable shoulder strap, and comes in a bunch of pretty shades. The small size is perfect for a day of sight-seeing and shopping. 

Now, enough of this dreaming business - it's time to get planning a weekend city getaway!

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