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What I Wore: In The County

8 September, 2016 Nelia Leave a Comment

One more outfit post from our amazing getaway to Prince Edward County with Lincoln MKZ. On our final night, I got all dolled up for dinner with le bf, only to end the night barefoot and playing ping pong outside of the Drake Devonshire. My feet were black when we got back to the room. Sorry for that visual. But that probably describes PEC the best – there’s the quiet luxury of places like Drake Devonshire, coupled with homey comfort of various Inns, local ice-cream parlours, and beach shacks. It truly has become one of my favourite Ontario getaways and I hope we can return as soon as possible.

Have you ever visited The County? Share your experiences after the jump!

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What I Wore: CHANEL Cruise Cuba Graphic Tee

1 September, 2016 Nelia 8 Comments

A while back I wrote about the amazing CHANEL Cuba Cruise 2017 collection, and the one piece I really (REEEEALLLY) wanted to get my hands on was the colourful graphic tee. Well, dreams do come true, because I finally got to wear one to the CNE last weekend! And while the collection won’t be hitting the boutiques until some time in November, I predict that this t-shirt is going to be one of the hottest items, and will most likely sell out immediately. So if you’re really serious about owning one, make sure to call your SA and ask to put one on hold in your size.

I love that graphic tees are making a high-fashion return. As you can see, I was inspired by the runway show styling, and paired my tee with a tweed pencil skirt, but of course, you can wear yours with denim or leather, under a blazer, or over a dress, dress it up or down. These tees are super versatile and a little retro, and I’m officially obsessed.

Do you like the graphic tee trend? Share your thoughts after the jump!

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Travel: Prince Edward County with Lincoln MKZ

29 August, 2016 Nelia 4 Comments

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.

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What I Wore: Vilamoura Nights

22 August, 2016 Nelia Leave a Comment

Before booking our villa in the Algarve, we weren’t quite sure about staying in Vilamoura. Everything we read about it seemed to scream TOURIST TRAP, and so we hemmed and hawed, until everything else on Airbnb was gone, and the last remaining villa option we had was in Vilamoura. So imagine my delight upon arrival, when I discovered that our villa was situated in one of the more picturesque parts of town, surrounded by greenery and bougainvillea aplenty.

Sure, Vilamoura is an undeniably touristy place with beach bars, golf clubs, and a ton of resorts, but it wasn’t a bad thing. On our trip to the Algarve, we visited many authentic places, but we were always happy to return to our comfortable and touristy little town. If you’re not sure about where to stay, I can’t recommend the area near Old Village, Vilamoura highly enough. With several great restaurants nearby, a small grocery store a quick walk away, and beautifully landscaped grounds all around, this was the perfect place to call home during our time in the Algarve. I’ll share more recommendations from our trip in a separate post, so stay tuned.

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What I Wore: Bye, Falesia!

10 August, 2016 Nelia Leave a Comment

The worst thing about vacations is being back at the office, feeling like you could use another couple of weeks off. This is me right now, looking at the photos from my trip to Portugal and feeling severely homesick for a place that isn’t even home. Bizarre, non?

These photos were taken at Praia da Falesia aka Cliff Beach near Vilamoura in the Algarve. Falesia is one of several beaches that my friends and I were lucky enough to visit during our trip. It is a lovely and well-manicured beach, with all of the modern amenities – from swanky bars where you can grab a bottle of bubbly or some fried calamari, to beach umbrellas and loungers for rent, to all kinds of water sports within arm’s reach. Falesia Beach is also quite expansive, stretching to nearly 7km in length, which means there’s plenty of space to set up camp without feeling cramped.

This beach was closest to our incredible Airbnb villa in Vilamoura, and we spent two blissful days there, playing in the waves, dancing in the sand, and drinking all of the champagne, with views of the Atlantic on one side, and breathtaking cliffs on the other. It wasn’t the most beautiful beach we’ve visited on our trip, but it was certainly the most comfortable.

Have you ever been to Praia da Falesia? Share your travel stories in the comments!

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What I Wore: First World Problems

6 July, 2016 Nelia 3 Comments

When I first spotted this dress over on H&M app, I knew I had to have it. Everything about it from the watercolour rainbow stripes, to the Issey Miyake-like pleats screamed “must-have”, and so I dutifully made daily visits to H&M, only to walk away empty-handed (well, maybe not empty-handed, but without this dress in tow). So when I finally spotted a few of these dresses on a lonely rack, I grabbed my size and never looked back.

I wish I could say that this was a rare occurence, but the fact is, I stalk things at H&M all the time. Between the time I see something I want on the website, and the time it actually hits the stores, I end up spending countless lunch hours trekking back and forth between my office and the store, cursing the lack of H&M online shopping in Canada. I know that Canadian e-commerce is coming this year…but I literally can’t wait. First world problems, I know…but how amazing would it be to be able to buy your fave H&M (and H&M Home) things online from the comfort of your couch?!

What about you? Are you excited about the upcoming H&M Online Shopping launch? Share your thoughts in the comments.

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What I Wore: Similar, But Different

29 June, 2016 Nelia 1 Comment

You may have noticed that I’ve been wearing a lot of white dresses lately…which means I’m either in a rut or I’m obsessed with LWDs this summer. Let’s go with the latter. In my defense, all three dresses I recently wore are very different – the first one is worn off-the-shoulder and has long sleeves, the second is a breezy t-shirt dress with lace, while this one is a cami-style maxi. Similar, but different.

I guess, since the weather has been so beautiful lately, a crisp white dress feels appropriate and almost necessary. I wear these dresses with cute sandals for dressier occasions, with white sneakers (I’m partial to Stan Smiths) for casual strolls, and with ankle booties if the other two shoe styles feel a bit “been there”. Regardless of what I pair it with, LWD is the easiest garment to wear in the summer (perfect for lazy people who want to look put-together). So if I’m wearing yet another LWD in the next outfit post, just assume that it’s my summer uniform…I’ll try to keep it exciting with accessories.

So tell me, do you have something that you keep buying over and over again…similar, but different? Share in the comments.

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What I Wore: Summer Loving

20 June, 2016 Nelia 2 Comments

I’ve been on the hunt for a perfect white summer dress, and I finally found one at Old Navy, of all places! It was super unexpected, as I don’t visit their stores very often, but after randomly popping in one day, I found a treasure trove of LWDs. This one is my dream white dress – light cotton fabric, loose but flattering shape, and a touch of lace. It’s currently on sale, and comes in black too. You’re welcome.

Another summer item I had a tough time locating was a black straw boater/bolero hat. My head is too big for most “one size fits all” hats, so when I saw this Janessa Leone stunner in size L, I clicked “Add To Cart” immediately, and I’m so glad that I did. It goes with every summer outfit I own, and the wide brim will protect my face from the sun.

Between these two must-haves, my pizza and pretzel inflatables, and all of the one-piece swimsuits that I picked up over the last few months, I think I’m totally set for the summer. Bring on the sunshine!

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What I Wore: Langdon Hall

30 May, 2016 Nelia Leave a Comment

I wore this outfit last weekend at Langdon Hall, where I spent a couple of days with Garnier Canada and a group of fellow Canadian bloggers as part of our #SkinActiveRetreat. A separate post about the retreat is coming soon, but in the meantime, I thought I’d share this outfit post, seeing how I’ll most likely be living in this entire look all summer long.

This off-the-shoulder dress is pretty new to my wardrobe but it’s already a favourite – so easy to dress up or down, and breezy enough for even the balmiest of summer days. As for my footwear choice, these were the only shoes I brought with me on the retreat, showing just how versatile a pair of stylish white sneakers can be. I paired them with denim shorts, floaty dresses, and yoga pants, and not once did I feel out of place or under-dressed. This particular style is so comfy, I can literally walk for hours without any discomfort. Perfect shoes for travelling, if you ask me.

So there you have it, my summer staples – easy off-the-shoulder white dress, a pair of Adidas Originals Stan Smith kicks, and a gorgeous country house to frolic about. What are you summer must-haves? Share in the comments.

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What I Wore: Baldwin Beach Park and Paia

28 January, 2016 Nelia 4 Comments

The thing I loved about Maui is how easy it is to get around the island. There are only a couple of main roads, so getting lost is nearly impossible. After spending a few blissfully relaxing days at our hotel, we decided to go on an adventure. We rented a car at the hotel, and took a picturesque drive to the north side of the island, heading towards the fishing village of Paia. Our plan involved a late lunch at Mama’s Fish House, as well as some beach time at Baldwin Beach Park.

On our way from the hotel, we noticed signs for a scenic lookout, and decided to make a pit stop. What we found was a breathtaking view of the ocean, with whales splashing in the distance. It was glorious! After enjoying the lookout, we jumped back in the car, and headed to IHOP in Kahului…judge if you must, but our breakfast was deeeeelicious. Afterwards we drove to Baldwin Beach Park to work off those pancakes, relax, and look for sea turtles.

Baldwin Beach Park was an interesting place – a beautiful beach with lifeguards, and all kinds of colourful characters. Hula-hooping hippies, a friendly, if a little crazed-seeming Bible-reciting man, girls handing out free coconuts, nudists…you name it, Baldwin Beach Park has it all! Speaking of free coconuts…I considered declining the kind offer, but the girls were opening them up right next to us, so I figured YOLO, and accepted one. I didn’t share the coconut water with le bf, in case it was laced with something…but it ended up being delicious and not at all poisoned nor roofied. Lesson learned: when life gives you free coconuts, take them and drink the coconut water with abandon.

We spent the rest of the afternoon lounging around and playing in the waves. After a while, we took a stroll down the beach and spotted sea turtles swimming super close to shore. Le bf grabbed the camera and waded into the water, forgetting that his phone was in the pocket of his swim trunks. Cutting our sea turtle adventure short, we drove to Paia to buy some rice to try and save his phone, but apparently the rice trick doesn’t work with ocean water. Before we realized it, it was time for our Mama’s Fish House lunch. Once we arrived at the restaurant, we found immaculate grounds overlooking the ocean, friendly staff, and a dining room with a ton of character. We ordered Macadamia Nut Crab Cakes, Mama’s Stuffed Mahimahi, and Opah, Mahimahi and Ahi fish sautéed in Panang Curry. All seafood at Mama’s is freshly-caught by local fishermen, and everything tasted great. Prices are definitely not cheap (especially with a weak Canadian dollar), but Mama’s is a perfect place for a special occasion dinner while in Maui.

After spending some time in Paia, we jumped back into our rental and drove back to Kaanapali, enjoying all the beautiful sights along the way. Minus the ruined cell phone, it was a pretty magical day…IHOP and all.

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