I’ve always had this strange and contradicting personality mix. Though I can be very outgoing, particular (I like using this instead of ‘control freak’), and kind of type a, I can also be incredibly easygoing, agreeable, and introverted. And what I’ve noticed lately, is that this ends up shining through in my outfits. One day I’m in head-to-toe boho inspired neutrals and the next, I’m all pops of colour and bold, unexpected silhouettes. I suppose that’s the beauty of personal style, though I don’t even want to know what that says about me on days that I’m in leggings and a big sweater, hoping not to run into anyone!
This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Samsonite Canada. All opinions are 100% mine.
I’ve learned many lessons over the years when it comes to comfortable travel.
I was the queen of always overpacking AND over purchasing on trips. I’d bring impractical bags and always managed to wear the wrong thing on flights. I’ve dragged broken duffel bags across airports and worst of all, been absolutely freezing cold for an entire transatlantic flight!
Not only are airlines often charging extra for checked bags, there’s an ease and simplicity to travelling light. Getting ready while abroad becomes so much easier when you’re only armed with your favourite pieces. It’s great having to maneuver just one bag when you’re doing a lot of moving around on your trip, and especially within in Europe! There’s often no option of an elevator and an abundance of stairs.
Curious about my must-haves for comfy, but light travel? Be sure to read on below!
Are they really ‘cool’ if I have to tell you they are? Oh well, let’s go with it. Following my recently discovered San Francisco photos, I have so much to share! To catch you up, I went to SF last April with two girlfriends for 5-ish days. We stayed with her cousins for the first few nights, and they were not only kind, but they also had the best suggestions. Any time you can get insider info from locals, it can really take your visit to the next level (if that’s the way you like to travel). We did some really fun activities and I branched outside of my go-to travel itinerary in the best way. But, what good is this info if I keep it to myself? I’ve compiled a bunch of notable things to do in beautiful SF below for you guys, and I hope you enjoy!
And by no-brainer, I just mean that my brain has turned off. Bye, bye, thinking. It has been a wonderful thirty years.
The beginning of spring is always strange because I have no idea what to wear for the unpredictable weather, or if it’ll curse all of us if I put my winter coats into storage too early. I basically rock all black or jeans and a white tee every day. This is the uniform. Things went as far as 4 of us gals wearing the same t-shirt and medium wash ‘mom jeans’ at an event last night. It was ridiculous/kind of basic b awesome. I just can’t put in too much effort when it rains for 30 days straight, ya know? Which is what has led us here, to the sneakers I just can’t quit and the last of the coat wearing days. Plus, a high pony t., because day five hair must be contained.
Your feedback on my recent insta-hair post was amazing! Not only am I really excited to do a little review of the Dyson Supersonic for you (stay tuned, should be live soon), but I had a lot of questions about my hair colour! Which, I completely understand because before I started going golden a year ago, I really didn’t know what I wanted for my hair.
My friend Saschie had texted us on a Saturday last March. She was heading to San Francisco for a work trip in April and wanted to know if Kate and I wanted to join her. Within a few days, we’d secured the dates and booked our flights. We’d never travelled together and it was all incredibly spontaneous, but plans came together as seamlessly as the trip itself went.
I had the best time with the girls in San Francisco. We stayed with Saschie’s cousins in Daly City for the first few nights and it was so special to get to meet her relatives. Attending a casual family dinner as an outsider is actually such a beautiful experience. It was also really helpful to have around for insider information on what to do and see and eat while we were there! They were so kind to let us into their home and host us, I’m still really grateful.
When it came time for Saschie’s work conference, we stayed downtown for a fun change of pace. We opted for a lot of touristy SF activities, opting for a hop on hop off bus as our means of transportation. It gave the trip a really nice balance of classic sights and also experiencing pieces of San Fran that I’d never explored before.
At the time, I had so much fun and it’s one of my highlights of 2016. And yet, for some reason, I’d convinced myself that the photos I’d taken weren’t any good or worth sharing. In fact, I forgot about them until I found them on a memory card last week. Which, I think is crazy because looking at them a year later, I am in LOVE with every photo! I’m a huge believer in meant to be, and maybe I was to discover these now to infuse some sunshine into our lives. There’s so much SF focused posts coming your way because it was impossible to capture my love for this city into just one or two posts. First up, here’s a visual diary of our 5 days in San Francisco!
My workout wear has almost always been all black. Which, if you think about it, is a bit strange for a dancer. We were always about the flashiest, craziest costumes, so I wonder why I never got into bolder attire in class? It’s a shame really, because now that my dancing ‘career’ is over, I’m finally getting into bolder prints and patterns when it comes to my activewear. No matter what kind of style, I always want to invest wisely into any sort of statement athletic gear. The fits and fabrics need to be top notch and unique. Which, is why I’m so excited to introduce you to the new DAUB | ACTIVE collection, a partner of one of my faves, Daub and Design!
WARNING: This post contains a terribly photoshopped background, a curvy woman in a sports bra, and a borrowed pair of runners that I was forced to wear without socks. All things that may shock and surprise – you’ve been warned.
Working from home has many appealing qualities. Loungewear all day! No spending money on parking, food, or coffee! Flexibility in your schedule! But, there are plenty of tradeoffs that are not for everyone. It can be lonely as hell. There’s temptation all around on those low productivity days (Netflix! YouTube! HGTV!). And as much as you can be unmotivated, it’s also incredible easy to overwork yourself. There’s no office to leave, or boss to ignore after hours. Boo to self discipline.
I’ve worked from home for 6 years now. Which, is a bit strange for someone who thrives in a workplace (and in life, really) by feeding off other people’s energy. It has definitely been tough at times. There have been stretches where the isolation takes over, and it’s a challenge to feel social. Looking back, I wish there were a few things I’d implemented from the beginning to attempt to avoid those uninspired times. Read on below for a few tips I’d pass on to anyone who is or is going to work from home!
When it comes to embodying more of this minimalism trend, I do struggle to part with certain pieces. I have LOVED clearing out our place of clutter and when it came to our kitchen, for example, I have seen a direct correlation between getting rid of excess and actually using our kitchen gadgets because we can see/access them. Which, I know will be the case with my wardrobe as well, but how does one not go into personal style crisis whilst trying to purge clothing items? This coat, for instance, was in my donate pile. I was SURE that I was done with leopard print faux fur. Of course, I didn’t get rid of it fast enough, saw that leopard print calling my name recently, and have worn it a bunch the past few weeks. Why is it so challenging to decipher between what you ACTUALLY won’t wear, and what you haven’t worn in a while, but will one day resurface as a must have? The are the ridiculous questions that I have in life.
