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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.

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What I Wore: Vilamoura Nights

22 August, 2016 Nelia

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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

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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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Beauty: #SkinActiveRetreat with Garnier Canada

18 June, 2016 Nelia

A few weeks ago, I found myself in a limo full of bloggers, headed to Langdon Hall Hotel and Spa with Garnier Canada. On the agenda was a one-on-one consultation with Skin Expert Dr. Noah Wieder to design a personalized #MySkinActiveMatch skincare routine, fancy in-room facials, learning all about new Garnier SkinActive products, yoga, and so much more!

After making new friends and settling into our beautiful rooms, the girls and I were super excited about our consultations. After I mentioned my skin sensitivities (rosacea and dryness), my “prescription” included Garnier Clean Gentle Clarifying Cleansing Gel, Garnier SkinActive Moisture Rescue Actively Hydrating Daily Lotion, Garnier SkinActive Ultra-Lift Miracle Wake-Up Cream, Garnier SkinActive Micellar Water, and Garnier Skin Renew BB Cream. I was already a huge fan of both Garnier Micellar Water and BB Cream (So good! Try them both if you can!), but I was very excited to try the new moisturizers and a gentle cleansing gel.
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After using these for a few weeks now, I have a couple of favourites. Garnier SkinActive Ultra-Lift Miracle Wake-Up Cream is a dream moisturizer. Infused with 15% Hydra-Glycerin (a known humectant), Hyaluronic Acid and Antioxidant Complex of Wild Berry, Vitamins C & E, it “plumps skin reducing the signs of fatigue for fresh, youthful-looking skin”. You can use it day or night, but I prefer to apply it before going to sleep so that I wake up with dewy-looking and well-rested face.

Another product I loved is the Garnier SkinActive Moisture Rescue Actively Hydrating Daily Lotion. This moisturizer has SPF15 and helps protect and defend against moisture loss. I like to wear it during the day for extra sun protection, so if you always forget to apply sunscreen before going outside, this one is for you. I love how lightweight this moisturizer is; it sinks right into my skin and creates a perfectly smooth base for my makeup.

Both of these moisturizers worked really well on my sensitive skin and come in convenient pump bottles, to reduce the chance of contamination and break-outs. These are real winners, and if you have dehydrated skin, you really need to try them!

The rest of our retreat was spent on getting to know the fellow bloggers, attending various activities, and sneaking out to hang out by the pool, because the weather was too lovely to pass up. Luckily, Team Garnier thought of everything and left some Ombrelle Sport Endurance SPF 30 and SPF 50 waiting for us in our rooms. Ombrelle Sport Endurance sunscreen is amazing for several reasons – it’s water and sweat resistant for up to 80 minutes, protects from both the UVA and UVB rays, is oil-free, fragrance free, colorant free, and absorbs quickly and without the icky white residue. Since our retreat, I’ve used Ombrelle Sport Endurance sunscreen on several occasions, and haven’t been burnt once…hopefully I am not jinxing myself, but so far, as long as I’m diligent enough to re-apply every 2 hours, my skin feels happy instead of baked.

After a yoga session (outfitted by B Yoga), hanging out poolside, and a quick but delicious lunch, we all piled back into our limo, full of fun memories of our wonderful Langdon Hall #SkinActiveRetreat, and with bags full of Garnier treats. I am still testing out several other products I received on this trip and will be sure to shout-out my other faves on Snapchat (styleblogca) or Instagram (@styleblogca). Stay tuned!

In the meantime, let me know if you’ve tried any of the products I mentioned in this post. Would love to hear your thoughts!

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What I Wore: Langdon Hall

30 May, 2016 Nelia

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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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CHANEL Cuba Spring/Summer 2017 Cruise Collection

4 May, 2016 Nelia

This week marked a historic moment in fashion history – CHANEL and Karl Lagerfeld presented the Cruise 2017 collection in Cuba, the day after the first U.S. ship docked in Havana in nearly 40 years! The vibrant collection was shown on Paseo del Prado, the street that divides Old Havana from Centro Habana, and which was redesigned in 1928 by a French landscape architect who placed eight bronze statues of lions (Coco Chanel’s favourite animal and her zodiac sign) at every crossroads of the street.

The collection was probably one of the more relaxed ones I’ve seen from CHANEL in years, with graphic tees (I need one so badly!) tucked into pencil skirts and worn with slides, airy dresses paired with Panama hats, and an abundance of chic denim pieces. The accessories played an homage to Cuba, with a cigar box minaudiere, playful tropical brooches, and a Coco Club (Havana Club stand-in) knapsack. Vintage cars made for a fun all-over print that appeared on several runway garments, all flowy and vibrant.

I’ve been to Havana twice in the past, and loved the look and feel of the old town – pastel buildings, classic cars, live music, friendly locals. And while most Cubans won’t be able to afford any of CHANEL’s garments that were presented in Havana this spring, the attention that this show brought to this beautiful Caribbean country can only mean more tourism and more money flowing into the economy. And that’s a great thing.

What did you think of CHANEL Cuba Cruise Collection? Share your thoughts in the comments.

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Karl Lagerfeld’s “Obra en Proceso / Work in Progress” Exhibit Coming To Havana

25 April, 2016 Nelia

Back in October I wrote about the upcoming CHANEL Cruise 2016/17 show that will be presented on El Paseo del Prado in Havana, Cuba on May 3rd. But if that wasn’t enough reason for you to book a flight to Cuba, now it’s been announced that as part of the month of French culture in Cuba, the House of CHANEL will be presenting the exhibition “Obra en Proceso/Work in Progress” by Karl Lagerfeld at the Factoria Habana in Cuba, running from April 28th to May 12th, 2016.

“This exhibition, divided into three sections representing the designer’s main interests – fashion, architecture and landscapes – brings together more than 200 of Karl Lagerfeld’s photographs. It explores the great diversity of subjects, approaches and techniques that define the very personal and subtle interpretation that makes Karl Lagerfeld’s photography.”

Unlike some of the other exotic destinations for the CHANEL Cruise collections, Cuba is so much more easily-accessible for those of us in North America. Flights are affordable and quick from Toronto…and I really wish I could jump on a plane and check out this exhibit. What about you? Share your thoughts in the comments.

Photo Credits: CHANEL

What I Wore: New Faves

4 March, 2016 Nelia

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Even though I wore this outfit in February, this is definitely more of a spring look if you ignore the fat snowflakes all around me. I’ll be wearing a variation of this a lot once the weather warms up in Toronto. I finally got my hands on the coveted Acne moto jacket, and I want to wear it ALL THE TIME. The leather is so buttery soft, and even though it’s a bit heavy, I feel like it elevates everything I wear. The dress is from H&M, and it’s also a fave – super comfy and cute…with or without tights. Finally, the shoes are surprisingly winter-friendly. When I was wandering the slushy streets of NYC, the platforms kept my feet from freezing and my ankles away from the snow and sleet. They also have a great amount of grip, so I didn’t slip and slide like I sometimes do when wearing heels. And I don’t know about you, but I totally used to wear similar flatforms when I was in high-school, as inspired by the Spice Girls. Circle of life?

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What I Wore: Baldwin Beach Park and Paia

28 January, 2016 Nelia

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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What I Wore: Hawaiian Lu’au

18 January, 2016 Nelia

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Feels a bit wrong sharing outfit posts from Hawaii while it’s snowing outside, but I’m thinking that a little escapism never hurt noone. I already wrote about our excellent hotel stay in Maui, and mentioned the fun that we had at the Drums of the Pacific Lu’au. Well, this is what I wore that night – a pleated Club Monaco dress roomy enough for all the food, yet pretty enough to go with the lovely orchid lei. I loved how it moved with each step…almost like a grass skirt during a hula dance. It’s definitely a new fave and I can’t wait to wear it again when it’s warm enough to pull it out of the closet. Is it June yet?

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Travel: Prince Edward County with Lincoln MKZ

What I Wore: Vilamoura Nights

What I Wore: Bye, Falesia!

Beauty: #SkinActiveRetreat with Garnier Canada

What I Wore: Langdon Hall

CHANEL Cuba Spring/Summer 2017 Cruise Collection

Karl Lagerfeld’s “Obra en Proceso / Work in Progress” Exhibit Coming To Havana

What I Wore: New Faves

What I Wore: Baldwin Beach Park and Paia

What I Wore: Hawaiian Lu’au

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