March 26, 2014

Up in the Air

I recently just got back from spring break and was flooded with pictures of friend's beach getaways and tropical adventures. I was jealous to say the least.

People I knew had gone as far as Punta Cana, Australia, and Thailand for two weeks of bliss while I was shivering in good ol' Virginia.

Aaanyways, enough with the wanderlust, the one thing we all had in common were the endless flights we all took.

So, I've popped together an 'Up in the Air' essentials guide to help you have the most relaxing flight (no matter the final destination).


Perfect to keep your toes toasty and moisturised (thanks to infused aloe vera) during those long flights where you just want to kick your shoes off and relax.

This BB Cream is already one of my favourite everyday products. It's especially necessary to use in place of foundation when flying to keep your skin from feeling heavy and dried out. If you're lucky enough to be going somewhere warm, the built-in SPF is an added bonus.

This eye mask is made of silk to keep from clogging your pores and infused with Banana and Cream to let you ease into sleep.

4) Ole Henriksen Face Wipes, $19 (30 wipes)
These luxurious cleansing wipes gently remove dirt and makeup as well as moisturize (with the help of essential fatty acids), all while smelling of citrus and vanilla. Perfect to freshen up your dehrydrated skin. If you need extra hydration, try Dermalogica Multi Active Toner

5) Bobble Water Bottle, $12.99 (34 oz)
Bring this empty water bottle through security then fill it fully before your flight to counteract dehydration (you're much more susceptible whilst flying). The built in filter means you don't have to worry about the quality of the water and sleek design makes it the perfect travel accessory.

6) Rollerball Scents, prices vary
I absolutely hate the smell of planes. These portable, unspillable fragrances are perfect to pop on right before you get off. Some of my favourites I've included are Lavanilla Pure Vanilla, Burberry Brit Sheer, and Frederic Malle Carnal Flower.

Let me know some of your travel essentials!

Love, Milly

March 24, 2014

Smoothie Start to the Day

I love breakfast.

But when I wake up late at 7:30, have to be out of the house by 8:00 and barely have enough time to make sure my hair isn't a rats nest, it's hard to fit an entire meal into my morning routine.

This makes pre-made smoothies my perfect on-the-go breakfast.


Here are my three go-to 'Smoothie Start to the Day' recipes:


Bananaberry (strawberry, banana)


Ingredients:
1 small-medium sized banana
5 medium sized strawberries
Splash of Milk
1 spoonful of greek yogurt

Banaberry is what I grew up drinking when we made smoothies so it's extremely homey. Plus the banana and strawberries will help to fight depression, increase your fibre intake, and improve overall health (vitamin C).


Citrus Berry (orange, blueberries, raspberries)

Ingredients:
1/2 an orange
1/2 cup of blueberries
2/3 cup of raspberries (I used frozen)
Splash of orange juice

This smoothie is packed full of antioxidants and vitamin C to improve your heart health as well as ward off pesky infections and even diseases in later life. It's also a super refreshing drink if you need that morning kick.


Cast-Away (mango, pomegranate)


Ingredients:
2/3 cup of pomegranate seeds
1 mango
1/2 cup of water
2 fresh mint leaves

Sadly this smoothie is as close to an island getaway as I'm getting. Benefits include its ability to clear your skin of imperfections and strengthen your immune system (thanks to the loads of antioxidants you've packed in).

From left to right: Cast-Away, Bananaberry, Citrus Berry

























Let me know what your favourite morning smoothies are!

Love, Milly

March 21, 2014

Friday Favourites

Everyone immediately springs towards pastels as soon as spring comes around.

Don't get me wrong, I love pastels, but it's hard to stand out in a sea of pale pinks and mint greens.

The last Blue Friday Favourites I did was my favourite one yet, but to adjust for spring, I've popped together this Friday Favourites filled with bright blue hues.


1) Chic Girl Moto Jacket in Navy, $15.80

I just about fainted when I saw the price on this jacket. Obviously it's faux leather and not the go-to leather jacket every girl dreams of but for the price and the pop of colour, this jacket is perfect to brighten up an otherwise ordinary outfit for spring.

2) Urban Decay Eyeliner in Chaos, $24

 Instead of opting for a classic smokey eye or cat eye, step out of your comfort zone this spring with a bright hue like this liner. For my fellow brown eyed gals, this colour is especially complimentary!

3) Bumble and Bumble Surf Spray, $29.50 (4 oz)

Bumble and Bumble is the go-to surf spray if you want the 'just walked across the beach at low-tide and now have perfectly tousled waves' look (I may slightly envy those who naturally achieve this look....). To get the best results blow dry your hair until it's 85% dry and then spray the bottom half and scrunch.

4)  Complexion Cake Pops, $75

Okay, okay, these may not actually be called cake pops, but they have an uncanny resemblance to the acne-inducing fiends. Using these twice a week improves circulation and collagen production and decreases puffiness and pore size.

5) Merry Go Round Sunglasses, $16

The cut and hue of the lenses make these the perfect spring sunnys to invest in to celebrate the lovely spring weather (sadly Toronto will be experiencing snow tonight...again...lovely.)

I'm sorry I haven't posted in forever, I devoted the majority of my spring break to visiting family, catching up on some much needed R&R, and of course, basking in the sun for the first time in months!

Love, Milly

March 16, 2014

Pamper Products

Something that every girl needs from time to time is a classic pamper night.

I honestly think that they're the best remedy after a stress filled week or two.

Some people go all out when they pamper themselves: nails, face masks, hair masks, etc. I choose more of a simple, laid back night that requires three things:

Candles, a luxurious bubble bath, and a refreshing face mask.


I either like a very fresh or very calming scent, so my favourites include a mixture of both. If you have different smell tastes (does that make sense?) I will say that Yankee Candle is one of my favourite brands (as you can probably tell from my choices) and has a huge variety of scents.

1) Yankee Candle in French Vanilla
2) The White Company Candle in White Lavender
3) Yankee Candle in Clean Cotton


My chosen bath 'accessory' is a bath bomb. They soften your skin, smell incredible, and prettify (technical term) your otherwise ordinary bath. There's only one place to buy bath bombs and that's Lush. They're a little pricey but are key to a girl's pamper night.

1) Sex Bomb: contains jasmine, clary sage and ylang ylang to relax you as soya milk softens your skin.
2) Golden Egg Bomb: not quite sure about whether I'm keen on coming out of the bath looking like a gold statue, but I do love the honey-toffee fragrance and cocoa butter
3) Bunny Bomb: yummy mixture of vanilla, coconut butter, and shea butter that releases tiny blue cornflower petals for the ultimate bathing experience


Finally we have face masks. These are quite hard to recommend because each persons skin requires a different product, but I've tried to cover all the bases with these three products.

1) C. Booth Deep Cleansing Volcanic Mud Mask: this sounds a little gross but as this mask dries you can  all the dirt it's pulled out of your skin-by far the best solution to skin that's been smothered in makeup lately
2) Karuna Hydrating Treatment Mask: this is a face mask sheet which means you look a bit like Hannibal Lector while it's on but it does wonders to rehydrate tired looking skin
3) Origins Drink Up Intensive Overnight Mask: for those whose skin looks impeccably dry during the winter (join the club), this rehydrating mask is the perfect remedy

Hope this helps you all in planning an upcoming pamper night!

Love, Milly

March 14, 2014

Friday Favourites

I'm in love with spring.

Not just because it's warm, and I get to actually walk outside with bare arms without getting frostbite, but because I think there are so many new clothing choices.

Personally, I stick to two major trends: pastels and brights. In other words, polar opposites.

Since I already did quite a pastel themed Friday Favourites, I thought I'd now do the other end of the spectrum.



This skirt had to be first on my spring bright Friday Favourites. Deep blues are generally a colour which I think flatter just about every skin tone, every hair colour, just about every person. That alongside the gorgeous print make this the must-have spring/summer maxi skirt to be worn day or night.


Yellow is a little iffy. It can look amazing or it can make you look like a clown. But, I think with the right skin tone and a little tan, this dress could look amazing. If you don't believe me take a look at The Londoner, Rosie looks like an absolute babe rockin this pretty little frock.


This fruity clutch adds an freshens (get it?) any of your winter blacks and greys without looking like you're stuck in last season. The lime green, cobalt blue combo is also super in this season.


These matte balms have one of the biggest cult followings and there's no surprise why. I picked up my first one ever (what can I say I'm a late bloomer!) in 'Unapologetic' today and am in love with the smooth texture and bright pink pigment.


I've recently become obsessed with slippers as a substitute for plain ol' flats. I feel like they have so much more character to them and there are so many adorable prints like this one out this season.

Let me know what 'bright' spring trends you're looking forward to trying!

Love, Milly

March 12, 2014

Guilt Free Ice Cream

Some people are able to eat whatever they want and not gain a pound. I, unfortunately, will never ever (add about 10 more 'ever's on to that) be one of those people.

But, instead of accepting my fate while I binge watch Grey's Anatomy with a tub of chocolate Häagen-Dazs in my lap, I've decided to make a lifestyle change.

To continue to get my sugar fix in this troubling time, I rely on delicious recipes like this guilt-free chocolate peanut butter ice cream.



It's sugar free, dairy free, and the flavour can be modified to whatever you feel like.

This recipe is enough to make either a normal amount for two people or a very large scoop for one. As per usual I chose to share with me, myself, and I.


What you need...

1.5 frozen bananas
2 tablespoons of peanut butter
1.5 tablespoons of cocoa powder

That's it. I know, I know, this is the mother of all diet dessert recipes, you can thank me later.

I will say that it tastes quite peanut buttery (technical term) like this so you could choose to add more cocoa powder or less peanut butter depending on your taste.


What you do...

Freeze the bananas overnight or at least for a few hours. I recommend peeling and chopping them beforehand.

Throw them into the blender and do your worst. It may look quite grainy at first, but just scrape down the sides every once in a while until you get a smooth, creamy texture like this...


Once the banana is smooth, add your chosen flavouring.

I chose to add a big scoop of natural peanut butter and a tablespoon of cocoa powder. If you'd like an extra kick of sweetness, add a spoon of honey to the mix.

Blend once more and voila!


You can freeze the mixture a little while longer or eat it on the spot....you can probably guess which one I chose (I'm only human!).


I topped it off with strawberries to add some freshness to the dessert, but I'm sure that crushed up peanuts or dark chocolate shavings would be equally delicious.


It looks naughty, tastes sweet, and is 100% healthy. Sold yet?

Love, Milly

March 9, 2014

Ice Beaches and Dim Sum

To celebrate the start of my spring break and the end of Sara's, we headed out for some good ol' Toronto exploring.

It was the first balmy (and by balmy I mean we were barely out of the negative temperature range) day we've had in a loonngg time, so we decided that a stroll through Yorkville was just what the doctor ordered. 

We started out at a restaurant I've been meaning to try for a long time, Dynasty. 

Dynasty is a Chinese restaurant right in the heart of Yorkville that has some of the best Dim Sum in the city. 


We ordered an absolute feast of BBQ pork buns, ginger chicken buns, sticky rice wrapped in lotus leaf with chicken, har gow dumplings, and golden sesame balls. 

Our eyes may have been a teensy weensy bit bigger than our stomachs. Whoops. 


 The har gow with the most delicious shrimp filling were my personal favourite!
                              





In a close second were the BBQ pork buns.




I could eat these all day...in fact I may have thought it was a good idea to shove a whole one in my mouth the minute they arrived. 


Gracefulness is apparently not one of my strengths.

We topped off the meal with the sesame balls and a last cup of green tea. 




In an attempt to not be filled with food guilt for the next week, we decided to wander through the Yorkville Icefest sculptures. 

Can I just say that whoever makes these is my new personal hero. They managed to make huge chunks of ice into such detailed sculptures...if that isn't art I don't know what is!

We drifted towards the beach themed sculptures to comfort ourselves over the fact that we won't be feeling the sand in our toes this spring break. 


   Oh well, at least we got an icey tiki bar!



Our good friend Jack (though you may know him as Mr. Frost) and his friend the giant sea turtle also consoled us in this troubling time. 



We even managed to set sail for the high seas!


It may not be the beach but all in all not too shabby of a start to this much needed holiday.

Love, Milly

March 7, 2014

Friday Favourites

Unfortunately it's been exam period lately so I haven't been able to post much. On the bright side, my last exam is this morning meaning lots of fun posts are coming up!

I didn't really have much of a theme planned when I was making this Friday Favourites, but it seems like it has quite a childlike theme about it.

Maybe it's my wishing it was nap time instead of exam time or impending uni decisions, but I hope you enjoy these childlike favourites as much as I do.


1) Star Crew Cashmere Sweater, $365

I love how whimsical and springy this sweater is. Plus it would be the perfect 4th of July sweater to showcase spirit without sporting an Uncle Sam or Wonder Woman costume. It's quite pricey, but nothing compares to a versatile ultra comfy cashmere sweater

2) Tech Me on Your Trip Laptop Sleeve, $34.99

You all know how obsessed I am with puns, which is why I was immediately attracted to the name of this case. Herschel Supply & Co. make really nice bags so there's no question about quality but I just love the individual print. The little toy cars are so adorable that they make me forget for a smidge of a second that they're concealing my evil laptop.

3) A Fox of Chocolates Container, $32.99

Again, another pun--I just can't resist! This little chocolate container is so adorable. I think I would actually use it to store my studs or some other form of jewellery, but no matter it's use it's such a sweet (get it) accessory to have around the house.

4) Ancient Greek Sandals, $240

This favourite calls for some confession time. When I was a kid I was obsessed with greek mythology to the point where I would fall asleep clutching D'Aulaires (my favourite myth book) every night. Sad, I know. I may have moved past this phase but I couldn't help revisiting my obsession with these Hermes inspired sandals! There's also loads of other styles of greek sandals on the site if the wings are too much for you.

5) Hola Fox Scarf, $30.55

This scarf comes in both navy and soft grey, both of which are beautiful designs. I'm not sure why, but I seem to slowly be building up a wardrobe overtaken with woodland animals (I have a fawn sweater that I'm obsessed with!). Yet another perfect season-to-season accessory.


Sorry again for the lack of posting lately, I promise to put the spring back in my step with this much needed break!

Love, Milly

March 3, 2014

Winter Lip Tips

Most people's winters appear to be coming to an end, but if today is any indication, mine is far from over.

I find that winter takes an extreme toll on two parts of my face: skin and lips.

Moisturisers are quite difficult to recommend because everyone's skin is so different. Though if any of you suffer from sever winter dryness like me, I heavily recommend Clinique Moisture Surge or Ole Henriksen Sheer Transformation (my sister swears by it!).

So instead I thought I would share my winter lips routine with all of you.


The first step to having soft lips is exfoliating--especially if you like to wear matte lip stains in the winter months, this step is a must.

My weapon of choice is e.l.f. Studio Lip Exfoliator


You can tell how much I love this product by how worn down it is. It's infused with Vitamin E, Shea Butter, Avocado, Grape and Jojoba Oils and has little beads that work to exfoliate your lips as you rub it on. Best part? It tastes like brown sugar!

After using it for about two weeks, I've definitely noticed a difference in how soft my lips are. Highly recommend this product, especially because it is such a steal at only $3.00! As of now I believe you can buy this line at Target in Canada, but I'm not sure if they specifically carry this product as I bought it online.

Next step is moisturizing.

I've recently stumbled upon the most magnificent lip balm in the world. Big statement, I know, but Nuxe Rêve de Miel Ultra-Nourishing Lip Balm rightfully deserves it.


I've tried tons of lip balms before, but always found that they had no long-lasting effects on my perpetually chapped lips. Rêve de Miel, with it's huge cult following, is exactly the opposite. It's an extremely lush lip balm which penetrates deep into your poor chapped lips to give long-lasting results.

Although I've only recently purchased it, I think the pot will last me for quite some time, which makes the $17 purchase price (Shoppers Drug Mart) well worth it.

Let me know your winter lip must-haves!

Love, Milly