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).

1) Aloe-Infused Lounge Socks, $3.99

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.

2) Maybelline BB Cream, $8.99

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.

3) Luxury Eye Mask

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

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

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

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

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.

1) Asos Goldie Maxi Skirt, $94.10

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.

2) Asos Oh My Love Scuba Skater Dress, $65.87

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.

3) River Island Yellow Lemon Print Clutch, $36

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.

4) Revlon ColorBurst Matte Balm in Unapologetic, $6.49

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.

5) Topshop Swoon Heart Print Slippers, $45

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