Roots

What I Wore: #BeNice

14 May, 2017 Nelia

With Canada turning 150 this year, Roots has created the #BeNice campaign to celebrate Canadians who make this country a better place to live. You can nominate someone who deserves the title of Canada’s Nicest Person by sharing your stories on Facebook or Instagram and tagging @rootscanada with hashtags #BeNice and #RootsIsCanada. Canadian Olympic Champion Adam Van Koeverden will select the top 10 finalists, and it will then be up to the public to vote for who they believe is the nicest. The winner will be announced on June 20th, and will be recognized with a $10,000 donation to his or her charity of choice.

“We want to acknowledge those who embody Canadian nice – the kind of nice that takes guts, courage and strength,” says Van Koeverden. “We’re calling on Canadians to nominate nice and let us know who goes above and beyond to champion what they believe in to really make a difference.”

And while we’re on the topic of “nice”, Roots has also created the nice Button set ($3), with 100% of profits benefiting WE’s Indigenous Youth Empowerment Programming. For more info on Roots’ #BeNice campaign, upcoming events, celebrations, and art installations check out www.roots.com/nice!

More after the jump!
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Travel: Prince Edward County with Lincoln MKZ

29 August, 2016 Nelia

After a couple of stressful weeks at the office, le bf and I packed our bags, jumped into a shiny new 2017 Lincoln MKZ, and set off to Prince Edward County for 2 days of R&R. We’ve never been to PEC before, mostly because I’ve always dreaded the 2.5 hour drive, but after hearing amazing things about The County, we finally decided to see what all the hype was about. Thanks to top-notch navigation, easy-to-use SYNC® 3 system, and Bridge of Weir™ leather-trimmed seating, the ride was fun and enjoyable. We stopped at the Big Apple for snacks and photo ops, took a quick detour to check out Laveanne lavender farm, and before we knew it, we were pulling into Drake Devonshire’s parking lot.

I’ve heard a lot of great things about Drake by the Lake, and they were all true. From our beautiful room complete with quirky art and comfy bed, yummy food and lovely lake views at the restaurant downstairs, Drake Devonshire had everything we needed for a restful getaway. The hotel’s perfect location allowed us to explore PEC, while being close enough so that we could return to the Drake any time we needed a break or a change of clothes. I loved our leisurely drives past picturesque farm houses and green corn fields, and I loved the retractable panoramic glass roof on our Lincoln MKZ, which made it feel like we were cruising around in a convertible.

Even though Drake Devonshire is located a few minutes away from a local Wellington beach, the highlight of our trip was definitely Sandbanks Provincial Park. White sandy beach, clear lake water, and plenty of space to stretch out made for a lovely place to lay down our towels and relax. We spent two days there, swimming and sunbathing, and I really didn’t want to leave. Though when we did have to leave, we were super thankful for the cooled leather seats – felt amazing, especially since the car was parked in full sun for several hours.

Since we were on vacation, the rest of our time in PEC was spent eating. We loved our dinners at The Hubb and East and Main, ice-cream at Slickers, and everything in-between at Drake Devonshire. We really wanted to try the wood-fired thin crust pizza at Norman Hardie, but sadly they didn’t serve it on the days we were around. Next time for sure!

On our final day in The County, we drove to the stately Claramount Inn for massages – the best way to start a morning, if you ask me. Zen and super relaxed, we had our last delicious breakfast at The Drake, and then we were back on the road. Just like our drive to PEC, our trip home was quick and comfortable. The ride was super smooth, and since my iPhone was synced to the entertainment system, we had the awesome mix of Backstreet Boys and NSYNC as the soundtrack to our road trip. Perfect way to end our mini-vacation.

Have you ever been to Prince Edward County? What were the highlights from your visit? Share in the comments.

More after the jump!
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Events: Blogger Bazaar Fall 2014

14 October, 2014 Nelia

Last month, by popular request we held our third Blogger Bazaar, this time – fall edition. With help from our awesome sponsors (Aime by Monica Mei, ALDO, Cake Beauty, Call It Spring, Civello Salon, Dermalogica, Essence, Flare Magazine, H&M, Lovefresh, Roots, smartwater, Trend Trunk, vitaminwater, and Yorkdale), we once again had epic swag bags to gift to our attendees, who showed up at the Soho House ready to shop.

On offer, was a selection of winter coats, party dresses, designer bags and shoes, jewelry, and so much more! We mingled with our readers and our friends, sipped on vitaminwater, played with Cake Beauty dry shampoo, shopped each other’s tables, and said good-bye to our preloved clothing and accessories. It was a fun afternoon for us, and we hope that those that were able to attend enjoyed it as much as we enjoyed organizing it.

And to thank you all for supporting Blogger Bazaar, we would like to give something back! Until October 31, if you instagram or tweet a photo of your fave bazaar purchase, using a hashtag #BLOGGERBAZAARTO, you will be entered to win 1 of 2 Yorkdale prize packs ($100 gift card and a valet parking pass). You can share more than one photo for more chances to win. Sounds good? Can’t wait to see all of your photos!

More after the jump!

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You Are Invited: Blogger Bazaar Fall 2014

23 September, 2014 Nelia

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Due to the overwhelming response we received after the last two Blogger Bazaars, we’ve decided to get together for one more in 2014! Who’s excited?

This Saturday, September 27th, join us as we put some of our fave fall clothes and accessories up for sale at Toronto’s Soho House. This time around you can expect to see lots of coats, boots, and other fall essentials – all for a steal! If you are looking for a perfect coat, or a cool designer bag, this sale is not to be missed! Once again, there’ll be a mix of vintage, brand new, and gently used items available, and there’ll be gift bags with purchase too.

Thanks to our generous sponsors, our swag bags are pretty awesome if I say so myself, and will include items from ALDO, Cake Beauty, Call It Spring, essence, H&M, Roots, vitaminwater, Yorkdale, along with other faves of ours. Additionally, just like last time, 10% of all sales will be donated to charity – this time – Dress for Success. So many reasons to come out and spend your Saturday afternoon in the company of fun Toronto bloggers! Hope to see you there!

WHERE: Soho House, 192 Adelaide St W, Toronto
WHEN: September 27, 2014 12-4pm
GIFT BAGS WITH PURCHASE (minimum purchase of $30, while supplies last)
CASH ONLY
10% of all proceeds will be donated to Dress for Success

Events: Blogger Bazaar Summer 2014

17 July, 2014 Nelia

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Last month, I joined some of Toronto’s best fashion bloggers (Sharon and Tara backseatstylers.com, Kimberly thesoulsofmyshoes.com, Anita iwantigot.geekigirl.com, Hawley sidewalkhustle.com, Anya imtheitgirl.com, Liane etsy.com/ca/shop/thelostsea, Jessica everafterlacquer.com, and Monica aimeluxury.com) in the SALE OF THE CENTURY! Ok, maybe not. But it still felt pretty epic. Our second Blogger Bazaar, held at Toronto’s Soho House, was a huge hit. Lots and lots of readers, friends, and curious passerby showed up, shopped, sipped complimentary vitaminwater, met other like-minded aka fashion-obsessed peeps, and helped us find good homes for our new and gently used treasures. It was a fashion madhouse, and I loved every second of it.

As promised, we had amazing swag bags to give away, filled to the brim with goodies kindly provided by ALDO, Artemano Decor, Call It Spring, Dove, eLUXE, essence, FLARE, Forever 21, Miraj Hammam Spa by Caudalie Paris, Roots, TRESemme, and vitaminwater. But even better than free swag, some of the deals were just too incredible to pass up. One lucky girl scored a gently-used Burberry trench for less than $200. Another picked up a pair of Wayfarers for $50. And of course there were even more deals on pieces from Hermes, YSL, Isabel Marant, Marni, Proenza Schouler, Prada…you name it – all priced to sell. Impulse buys, well-loved staples that sadly no longer fit, vintage goodies, there were all kinds of treasures to be found, and a lot of you made them your own. At the end of the day, 10% of all sales were donated to the Corsage Project charity. Just a little something to give back to our community.

The best and most memorable part of this summer’s Blogger Bazaar was once again meeting and interacting with our readers. So many of you showed up and spent the time to support our little event, and for that I am incredibly thankful. Without you, the readers, our blogs would just be empty shells, but you make it so much more than that. Thank you! Hope to see you again at the next Blogger Bazaar this September!

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More after the jump!

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You Are Invited: Blogger Bazaar Toronto 2014 Sneak Peek

29 May, 2014 Nelia

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BLOGGER BAZAAR is almost here…we only have a couple of days to go until the BIG SALE, and just like last time, I wanted to give you a glimpse at the goodies that I’ll be parting with this Sunday at Toronto’s Soho House! It’s a mix of high and low, designer and fast-fashion, brand new and gently used, and I hope that a lot of these items find new homes.

10% of all proceeds will be donated to the Corsage Project – Toronto charity that provides formal gowns and accessories, free of charge, to Toronto area girls that need them. And we will once again have amazing swag bags that will be given out with a purchase of $30 or more (while supplies last). Stuffed to the brim, these gift bags will be full of cool items from ALDO, Artemano Decor, Call It Spring, Dove, eLUXE, essence, FLARE, Forever 21, Le Chateau, Miraj Hammam Spa by Caudalie Paris, Roots, TRESemme, and vitaminwater! How epic is that?!

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So if an afternoon of shopping while hanging out with your fave fashion bloggers sounds like your idea of a fun Sunday, then make sure to pop by the BLOGGER BAZAAR this Sunday, June 1st at the Soho House! It’s steps away from St Andrew subway station, and right around the corner from the luxurious Shangri-La Hotel, where you can grab a table and settle in for some post-sale afternoon high-tea.

Hope to see you all there!

WHERE: Soho House, 192 Adelaide St W, Toronto
WHEN: June 1st, 2014 12-4pm
GIFT BAGS WITH PURCHASE (minimum purchase of $30, while supplies last)
CASH ONLY
10% of all proceeds will be donated to The Corsage Project

Sale items with prices after the jump!

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Holidays 2012: Canadian Fashion Insiders’ Gift Guide Part Two

13 December, 2012 Nelia

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Welcome to part two of our Canadian Fashion Insiders’ Gift Guide! If you are still on the hunt for that perfect gift this holiday season, make sure to check out our experts’ picks for some fun and fresh gift ideas. Whether you are looking for something stylish, practical, or simply adorable, we’ve got you covered!

1. Grace Lee, Lead Makeup Artist, Maybelline

Having watched Grace do her magic backstage at Toronto Fashion Week for two seasons now, I am still in awe of her makeup skills and her personal style. If you are shopping for Grace this holiday season, her wishlist includes the Grace Coddington Memoir, an iPad mini, and a custom-made closet from California Closets (me too, pretty please!).

For Christmas this year, Grace will be giving some practical presents like Starbucks gift cards, and Baby Lips lip balms from Maybelline (I’ve seen Grace also use them on cheeks!). Additionally, she will be picking up some adorable rings from ByBoe (how cute is that bow ring?!) for her friends and family.

As for her favourite places to shop for Christmas gits, Grace shares that she can never go wrong with Holt Renfrew, Williams Sonoma, and La Di Da Boutique. When asked what gets her into the holiday spirit, for Grace “it’s all about the kiddies. Once the tree, lights and decorations are up, I always feel festive.”

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2. Talia Brown, Stylist

“Growing up in the North, Holiday spirt was sprung with the dusting of the snow, the smell of the fire and the taste of good old fashioned cocoa. Here in Toronto you, can feel and see the joy in the streets, the eye candy of the window displays and of course the music that just becomes part of the movement. The hustle and bustle,the busyness of the shoppers, all in good spirit, of course.”

When I first met Talia, I was smitten with her sweet and bubbly personality, and her talent for styling. This holiday season, Talia is wishing for a perfect pair of rag & bone ankle booties, a Chibi Lady purse by ela in rose gold, and a gorgeous lace dress from LOVER. Ever the stylist, the three pieces go really well together and make for an amazing holiday outfit. Here’s hoping she gets it all!

On Talia’s shopping list this season are adorable (and yummy) gifts that she’ll be sharing with her loved ones, like the Peppermint Bark from Williams-Sonoma, the limited edition Missoni x Holt Renfrew stuffed animals (they are the cutest!), and luxurious lipstick from YSL, perfectly matched to her girlfriends’ personalities.

Talia will be doing some holiday shopping at MoRoCo Chocolat, The Cashmere Shop, and Bicyclette this holiday season.

More after the jump!

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Holidays 2012: Canadian Fashion Insiders’ Gift Guide Part One

10 December, 2012 Nelia

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The holidays are almost here, and if like me you still haven’t started your holiday shopping, don’t worry and get happy, because this year, I asked some of my favourite Canadian Fashion Insiders to share their stylish holiday wishlists and gift ideas with us. What will a designer, a model, a photographer, a make-up artist, a stylist, an editor, a blogger, and a PR maven be getting and giving this holiday season? Read on to find out!

1. Ela Kowalewska, Designer, ela Handbags

One of my favourite Canadian accessories designers, Ela is without a doubt one stylish lady. This holiday season, on her wishlist is a gorgeous Cartier Juste un Clou ring (yes, please!), Margiela’s Untitled perfume, and a weekend stay to relax and play at Langdon Hall. As for her Give list…all I can say is her loved ones are pretty lucky, because this season she’ll be giving some pretty sweet presents. On Ela’s shopping list is the editor’s pouch from her namesake line ela, Caudalie beauty elixir (one of my fave skincare brands too!), Byredo Parfums’ Gypsy Water, and Tkees flip flops, among other lovely presents.

As for her favourite places to shop, Ela counts Holt Renfrew, eLUXE, and Chapters as her holiday mainstays. “Aside from spending quality time with family and friends over homemade dinners/cocktails on both sides of the Atlantic a touch of snow (sprinkle will do), a good Christmas market as well as a few laps around the Somerset House skating rink get us into the holiday spirit,” shared Ela.

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2. Jason Hudson, Photographer

Not only is Jason one of the most talented photographers I know, I am also obsessed with his personal blog. Chronicling the people he meets, the events he attends (and works), the delicious food he cooks, along with personal stories and helpful tips on a variety of subjects, his website is more than just a blog – it’s pretty much a life guide, and a very helpful one at that.

What more, Jason and his partner Jeff will be setting off on an adventure of a lifetime this December, taking a year off to travel the globe! Appropriately, on Jason’s wishlist this season is a new luggage set from Heys (something durable, that will survive a year of constant travelling), MacBook Air to record his adventures, and a pair of new Persol sunglasses, which he’ll surely need while sipping delicious drinks in Honolulu.

As for what he’ll be giving to his loved ones this holiday season, Jason shared that his go-to host gift is the “super Canadian” Sortilege Maple Whisky, and that champagne flutes from Tiffany never fail – “the blue box is high-impact and exciting, and the glassware is classic.” Jason and Jeff will also be buying a map of the world for their nephews, so that they will be able to “follow us on our travels around the world!”

More after the jump!

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Toronto Fashion Week: Canadian Essentials from eLUXE

22 October, 2012 Nelia

Toronto Fashion Week is here, and our city is buzzing with excitement of SS13 collections, street style photographers on the prowl, and media, bloggers, and industry folks flooding the tents on King Street. And since I wasn’t able to hit the shops last weekend to pick up a few things to wear this week, I checked out eLUXE’s wide assortment of Canadian-designed pieces instead!

From a roomy bag, to a statement blazer, to oh-so-necessary eye cream, it has never been easier to add a few Canadian pieces to your wardrobe (and beauty cabinet too!). And with special MasterCard Stylicity eLUXE deal ($25 credit when you spend $75 or more, $25 off purchase of $75 or more), the timing couldn’t be more perfect. So take advantage while you can!

To see the rest of the post, please click here to visit the official Stylicity Blog!

Four Girls, Three Blogs, and Three Years of Style!

13 August, 2012 Nelia

Last week, a group of incredibly stylish Toronto lovelies took the Thompson Hotel Rooftop by a storm! Yes, I am talking about the Three Years of Style attendees…otherwise known as the readers and supporters of Style Blog, The Backseat Stylers, and The Souls of My Shoes – the three little fashion blogs that could.

Kim, Sharon, Tara, and I greeted our guests with fun swag bags, filled to the brim with goodies like Ardell eyelashes, eLUXE discount cards, essence cosmetics make-up, FLARE Magazine‘s August 2012 issue, Goody Double Wear elastics, John Frieda hair products, Nella Bella handbag hooks, Roots iTunes playlist redemption codes, Tweezerman tweezers, and Vitamin Water Zero. Pretty awesome, if I may say so myself.

Our guests came dressed to the nines, ready to face off for those coveted “Most Stylish” prizes. But even knowing the number of people that have RSVP’d for our little soiree ahead of time could not prepare us for the maelstorm of stylishness and beautimosity that ensued…even Thomspon Hotel’s rooftop management noted that they haven’t seen a group this stylish in a while! You all looked so good, that it was a really tough call to make. But after some deliberating, we chose our 4 most stylish.

Aya McMillan took home the grand prize consisting of a $250 gift card from eLUXE and a Nella Bella bag, while runners up Jessica Chiu, Liane Fong and Diego R each walked away with $100 from Danier Leather, Roots, and Yorkdale Shopping Centre.

Our last prize of the night – a coveted $550 LINE Knitwear leather jacket, generously gifted to us by designers John Muscat and Jennifer Wells, was a ballot draw, won by the luckiest girl in the world – Wendy Leung, who dashed other hopeful attendees’ dreams of winning that perfect fall piece.

The rest of the night was a blur. I couldn’t have asked for a better group of ~~bloggers~~ friends to ring in another year of blogging with. Kim, Sharon, and Tara have been amazing blogger-buds and event wing-women to me over the years, and it felt awesome being able to celebrate our success together.

Additionally, seeing so many of you at our party, taking the time to support our blogs felt surreal, humbling, and just really incredible. I got to meet some of my lovely readers, hang out with bloggers and industry insiders that never fail to inspire me, and spend some time reflecting on the three amazing years, doing what I love, and sharing my passion with all of you. Whether you were at our party in person, or in spirit, thank you from the bottom of my heart! Thank you for making our blog birthday party fun and exciting, thank you for tuning in week after week, and thank you for supporting our blogs and our dreams! I hope to see you again next year!

More photos after the jump!

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What I Wore: #BeNice

Travel: Prince Edward County with Lincoln MKZ

Events: Blogger Bazaar Fall 2014

You Are Invited: Blogger Bazaar Fall 2014

Events: Blogger Bazaar Summer 2014

You Are Invited: Blogger Bazaar Toronto 2014 Sneak Peek

Holidays 2012: Canadian Fashion Insiders’ Gift Guide Part Two

Holidays 2012: Canadian Fashion Insiders’ Gift Guide Part One

Toronto Fashion Week: Canadian Essentials from eLUXE

Four Girls, Three Blogs, and Three Years of Style!

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