Wedding Destressers

Yes I haven't posted in nearly 2 months and no I am not proud of it.
My days and nights have been spent preparing for the wedding....which is now in less than a month!
Throughout this whole engagement, I have had  a lot of fun planning and organizing, shopping and getting pampered, but I have also been a big ball of stress. No matter how well you plan for something, you can never really be at ease because anything can go wrong and all your hardwork and efforts gone down the drain. I will try not to be a pesimmist here, but when it is your day, you get pretty nervous!

Over the past few months I have been preparing my body, hair and skin for the big day! Below are my personal tips for making sure you are photo ready for your big day!

1) Skin Analysis
You want your skin to be glowing and radiant in your pictures, and makeup can help with that, but I highly reccommend getting your skin assessed at a skin clinic or by a dermatologist. If you are like me, I had very bad acne bumps under my skin that would not go away. I was tired of trying different cleansers so I finally decided to make the trip to a professional and have my face assessed and treated. With a series of chemical peels, my face has shed off the dead layers of skin and have allowed my congested skin to brethe again.

2) Laser Hair Removal
Since being engaged, I started getting laser hair removal for my underarms. Since it takes about 10 months (1 session a month), I decided to get started early and be ready to rock in my strapless dress.
I can not tell you how amazing it is NOT to have to shave every day. Razor burn and bumps no more! Hello smooth and hairless armpits. I highly reccommend this service for anyone...not just brides. Definately worth the investment.

3) Hair Colouring
If you are like me and change your hair colour as often as your socks, you may have some trouble selecting your hair colour for your wedding day. Throughout my 10 month engagement, I have been a red head, a brunette, a dirty blonde, and a platinum blonde. If you want to be a blonde for your wedding, and you are naturally dark, I reccommend starting to go lighter at least 3 months before the big day. It takes time to lighten and depending how light you want to be, it could take months. If you are looking for long luscious locks for your day, I also reccommend clip in hair extensions that can add not only length but lots of volume which always looks luscious and amzing.

4) Massages
Has anyone ever told you planning a wedding is stressful? Full body massages from a registered massage therapist are great for tension and stress relief. Going for a massage once a month has helped me destress and relax.

5) Exercise

Want to look fit and fab in your dress? Of course working out is the only way to do that. And eating properly! |And bonus: exercise also helps to reduce that stress. It can be tough to stick to a routine, but I find even if I don't feel like doing a full blown workout, I try and do a small one...even if it's only 5-10 minutes in my bedroom. And no need for fancy equipment either...I have found tons of YouTube videos of amazing home workouts.
This is one of my faves. Perfect for anyone wearing a strapless dress to the wedding!

And those are just my pre-wedding tips!! Again, these are my own personal experiences and reccommendations.
What are some of your routines/tips?

Arad Mud Soap

I have been battling mild adult acne for the past year and let me tell you, it is not fun. I hate standing in the facial cleanser aisle at the store trying to guess which product is right for me. It is a waste of time and money and I really don’t know what I am looking for. So I bit the bullet and finally went to see a skin specialist who could help me get into a better skin regimen.

I visited this specialist last year in Bradford. Her name is Mia and she owns The Bradford Skin Clinic right by my house. Last year, I purchased a facial cleanser from her by Arad. Arad is a line of Dead Sea skin products. I remember it working very well, so I went back in to have a chat with her about my current state of skin.

I explained my skin woes to Mia who listened intently and reassured me my face would look amazing for my wedding in October.

After going through a skin assessment and questionnaire, she advised I get a series of chemical peels. I had never had a chemical peel before, and it sounded frightening and painful but was reassured when I found out that a clay peel (which is the one she prescribed for me) was actually a very quick 2 step procedure that does not involve any down time whatsoever. The clay peels help with sun damage, acne and wrinkles.

So I went last night for my first ever peel. She started off by cleansing my face of all my makeup. The next thing she did was put a layer of clay on my face. It hardened in about 5 minutes and then she wiped it all away. It felt pretty good afterwards. The second step of the procedure was a little more uncomfortable. She applied the actual peel on my face. It felt very tingly and hot, like an army of ants were crawling on my skin. This was the part of the process where I could actually feel my pores tightening and working to get rid of the impurities. Thankfully that layer was only on for about 2 minutes and then she wiped it all off. I was pretty red afterwards (normal) and she calmed down the redness with some moisturizer and cover up.

My skin already feels tighter and looks better. I have another one booked for next week and will probably be getting a few before the wedding. It takes a few peels before you really start to notice the changes.

Before I left, I also purchased a very inexpensive bar of facial mud soap from the Arad line. I used it last night and this morning and it made my face feel really soft.  It acted like a sponge soaking up all the oil off my face. Hopefully with more use, I will stop having such bad breakouts. Mia said since my skin is super sensitive, it’s not good for me to be using products with such harsh perfumes and exfoliates.

I hope by the time this series of peels are over, my face will be in a beautiful, glowing, state.

IPSY Bag - July 2013 Reveal

So it's been a while since I cancelled my subscription to Glossybox. I just couldn't justify spending over $20 a month on products that are just nice to haves. *Sidenote, Glossybox no longer provides their subscriptions to Canada. I guess I wasn't the only one who felt jipped with the price increase!

Anyways, my friend Tania, who also happened to introduce me to Glossbybox, told me about a new product junkie subscription: IPSY.

At first I was hesitant to join, but at $15 a month, which includes a few mini glam bag with every package, I couldn't resist. So I signed myself up last month and just received my first package of goodies!

Fancy Packaging!!
 

The products came in a bright and shiny pink package which made me more happy, because we all know how much I love pink!!

As I ripped open the package, I was excited to see some fun summer themed treats:

1 - Coola Sunscreen : Perfect for everyday wear on the face. The bottle is pretty small so I don't think it will last me all summer, but a good thing to keep in your bag when you are on the go. The ingredients are all organic which is neat as well!


2- Pouty Pop Crayon- I have been using this on my lips, but I am sure you could use it on your cheeks  for a hint of colour as well. I am a big fan of the large pencils. I feel like I have more control when applying. The only downside is sharpening...I will have to buy one of those large sharpeners if I want to continue to use it.

 

3- California Collection Eyeshadow from bh Cosmetics- This super cute pack came with 3 fun colours that go great with my light eyes. I have already used the "San Francisco" colour and it looks amazing!

 

 

4 - BeneTINT from benefit - This is a lip stain/blush that has a nail polish like consistency. It is dark red so I am a little scared to use it on my lips in case it doesn't come off. I have never tried a stain before, but it looks like it will stay put!

 



 

5- Healthy Sexy Hair Beach Spray - This was probably my favourite item in the bag. I love beach spray in the summer time! I just spray some on my strands, scrunch and go. It smells amazing and I used almost the whole bottle on my first time of use. I was sad that it was only a small bottle but happy that I got to try this brand!

 

 

6 - And of course, this is the little glam bag that all the products came in (except the spray, it was too big). How cute!!! I can use this as a travel case. And I think I get a new bag each month, so  that is exciting!

 

 

Overall I was pretty pleased with the Ipsy bag. I must admit that it wasn't as fabulous as Glossybox but I wasn't expecting it to be. The only reason why I liked Glossbybox better was the size of the products. With Glossybox I would always get at least 1 or 2 full sized products with each package.

 

I will continue with Ipsy because I am curious to see what other products I will get. If you are interested in signing up for the subscription, please click this link: http://www.ipsy.com/?refer=u-hi7uvbl1wxklxq

If you subscribe through my link, I will receive ipsy reward points!

Thanks dolls!

 

xo

Tasha

 

Cucumber Water for the Skin

I will admit something to you right now: I hate wearing makeup in the summer. It is hot and sticky as is, so adding more product to my face, only to see it all melt away, is  not only a waste but an annoyance.
In the summertime, I try to let my skin breathe as much as possible, switching my regular foundation for a light tinted moisturizer and loading up on the SPF!
I like to look as sun-kissed and natural as possible, but sometimes I have a sudden urge to just scrub my face to get rid of all the dirt and oil that builds up throughout the hot day.

The other day I was googling some ideas on how to get rid of blemishes and oily skin using home made recipes (i.e. inexpensive). I came across many article about using cucumbers and cucumber water on your face for nourishing your skin. Here is what I did and you can try it too:

1. Peel and slice up half a cucumber (or whole) and place into a pitcher of water
2.  Leave the pitcher of cucumbers and water in the fridge overnight for best results
3.  After at least 24 hours, take the cucumber water out of the fridge and dip a cotton ball inside the water
4. Wipe the cotton ball all over your face for a light, refreshing feel 
5.  Take two cucumber slices and place  them over your eyes for 25 minutes. 
6.  Take the same two slices and wipe them all over your face. Your skin will be fully quenched!!

The cucumbers on the eyes sounds like an outdated beauty regime, but I find it really works. Either cucumbers or teabags help reduce the look of puffiness underneath your eyes and really brightens them up.

The cucumber water made my face feel so moist and refreshed after. I am hoping to continue doing this throughout the summer. It is a nice, inexpensive way to get a fresh face glow.
Cucumber water is also really good for you to drink, keeping you hydrated and helping to clear the pores.

It was really hard to take this selfie!

This feels amazing on your skin!
 

New Obsession: Sid Dickens Memory Blocks

As some of you know, I moved into a brand new house last winter with my finacee. If you have ever bought brand new before, you know that the house comes very plain! No curtains, no paint, no nothing. It is basically like buying a doll house, and you have to put all the finishing touches on it yourself. While some people may enjoy this, I find it a hastle because you have to start everything from scratch. And starting from scratch usually involves a lot of money!
Needless to say, we still have a lot of interior decorating to do!

For the longest time, we have been trying to find a large painting to fit our dining room wall. It is big, empty and looks sad. It's been tough trying to find the perfect piece of art to hang up....until now!

Last week, while I was visiting the lovely Unionville, Ontario, I popped into a chic home décor store to have a browse around. I noticed at the back of the store, they had a mural of beautiful ceramic tiles made by the name of Sid Dickens. I was immediately drawn to them due to their unique character and lovely, eye catching designs.

These ceramic tiles are called memory blocks. They are small rectangular shaped pieces that are collectibles made right in Vancouver, BC. If you have a collection put together on a wall, they look fancy and beautiful. Each piece has a specific meaning or story behind it which I find really interesting.

I didn't purchase any memory blocks  while in Unionville, but I did grab a catalogue sheet of all their latest tiles to peruse at home. When I visited the website over the weekend, I was instantly hooked and decided that we would have a Sid Dickens Memory Block mural on our large empty wall!

The fun part about these blocks is that they are meant to be collected. (They are rather expensive so buying a whole lot of them at once would be a bit ridiculous). They don't sell them in many stores, but you can purchase them easily on the company website or search for local retailers near by.

I was able to find a store that carries the collection at a home décor store in Newmarket, Ontario called Eqionoxx. Today after I went to the gym I went to check them out. I was in love with the mural they had created behind the cash register and simply couldn't resist buying my first piece.

There are many that I like, but my first block had to be the "Pierrot" cat, simply because it reminds me of my little feline, Felix. The "story" written behind the block also made me chuckle because it is Felix to a tee:

I am but a fool

playing only for your love.
Spare me your applause,
kind madam;
One caress will be enough

 

So this is the first block for my mural collection! I can't wait to get our next one. I will definitely be adding these to my wedding registry wish-list.

If you are looking for some unique decorating fun, check out the Sid Dickens website.

Shampoo and Conditioner Review: Blonda by Unite

It's almost summer, and that means time for light hair, tanned skin and lots of patio drinks :)
As most of my friends know, I have a love affair with being a blonde. It all started at a young age. I think I just wanted to be like Barbie, but unfortunately my mother would not let me dye my chestnut locks until I was at least 14.
So since my teen years, I have been going back and forth between blonde and brunette. Usually for the winter months I stay dark, but once April/May rolls around, I got right back to blonde :)

A few weeks ago I had my hair dresser cut my hair into an angled bob to get rid of all the red still in my hair (sidenote, never dye your hair red because it is a nightmare to get out). Anyways, in an effort to get me more blonde, we decided to cut off the bottom of my hair which was predominately reddish/ brown and highlight the rest of my hair a lighter blonde.

He did a fabulous job and my hair feels so much healthier. The colour is nice and vibrant, but I think I want to go even lighter, to more of a champagne blonde. It's a process I tell ya, but lots of fun.
In order to keep my blonde bright, I needed to purchase some blonde shampoo. I used to always use Pureology Antifade purple shampoo, but it was very expensive. Last year, I used John Freida blonde shampoo but found it dried out my hair.
Joey (my hair dresser) suggested I try Blonda by Unite, which is what they sell at Studio Five Salon. At $25 a bottle, I was hesitant, but convinced myself that I needed it. Beauty is pain on the wallet, am I right ladies? And I couldn't just buy the shampoo without the conditioner, so there was another $25 for that. A grand total of $50 for blonde maintenance. (Another sidenote, being blonde is rather expensive!)

Since my dye job almost 2 weeks ago, I have washed my hair about 4 times with the Blonda shampoo and conditioner set. The bottles I purchased were 236mL which is not that big considering the price. They claim to keep yellow tones out  and maintain your colour bright. What I love most about it is that it smells like grape koolaid. Yummy! I compared the ingredients of this shampoo with that of the John Frieda purple blonde shampoo I have and noticed that the John Frieda shampoo did have a lot more alcohols in it compared to Unite's Blonda, however, most of the main ingredients were pretty much identical.

While I think the shampoo and conditioner have done a good job with the colour so far, whenever I use them, I feel like I need to use a lot of it in order to get that "squeaky clean" feeling. The shampoo does not lather that well so I need to use a lot more than I thought when washing. Maybe that was their plan so that you are forced to buy more!! As I said, being blonde is not cheap! Especially when you are not a natural blonde.

So at the end of the day, is this brand worth the price? Yes and no. Yes if you can afford it, but no if you are on more of a budget. I think there are plenty of other products on the market that work just as well for a fraction of the price. Just look for any shampoo that contains violet in the ingredients list. And don't forget to use a good deep conditioner at least once a week to keep hair from damaging.

Happy Blonding!!

Big Bike For Heart & Stroke

Hello everyone and Happy Spring!

I am super excited for the upcoming season. Winter is over and it's time to shed those jackets, drink on the patio and flash those fresh pedis!
Yes, with the warmer weather brings more socializing and fun, but it also brings more opportunity for activity and fitness.

Every year I participate in a bike ride to help support the Heart and Stroke Foundation. This is a special cause very close to my heart (no pun in intended) because I have many people in my life who have been affected or were affected by heart disease and stroke.

I am reaching out to my followers and friends to help support me in my bike ride on June 5th. My fundraising goal is $200 but I am hoping to exceed that this year.

Please follow the link below and make a donation today!!

Thanks everyone for your support!!

Natasha Pavlovic's Personal Page for 2013 Heart&Stroke Big Bike - Unionville - Jun05