Frozen Waterfalls: Johnston Canyon
The hike up to Johnson Canyon has probably been my favourite part of this trip so far. Yes it was cold, and yes I was hungry from having consumed too many sugary carbs, but that view was worth it. I can't believe how the turquoise coloured waterfall pops, even in the winter. I'd love to see it during summer. Perhaps I should plan a trip back! ;)
xo, Nathalie
WHAT I'M WEARING
ROOTS, pom pom hat, scarf and wool tunic.
CANADA GOOSE, jacket.
COUGAR BOOTS, Apex boots.
THE DRAKE GENERAL STORE, thermal long johns.
Lake Louise: On Top Of The World
A quick 15 min gondola ride at Lake Louise Ski resort and we were transported to the top of the world! I can't even tell you how amazing the view was on top of the mountain early this morning. #unreal. The pictures don't even do the scenery justice.
Thanks to Jill from the August Diaries for throwing around snow with me. It was worth getting snow in our boots just to get these shots. Plus, how adorable is she?
xo, Nathalie
WHAT I'M WEARING
ROOTS, Fleece leggings, beanie and gloves.
CANADA GOOSE, jacket.
COUGAR BOOTS, Apex boots.
THE KOOPLES, scarf.
Lake Louise Travel Diary: Winter Wonderland
So I'm writing this from the beautiful Fairmont Lake Louise as I'm half asleep/ half excited to share my adventures with you guys. These were shot yesterday during our traditional horse-drawn sleigh ride along the frozen lake. It's not something I ever thought I'd be doing in my whole life but it was so cute and fun to do. Stay tuned for more adventures soon!
xo, Nathalie
IN GOOD COMPANY. With Brittany from Thrifts and Threads, Stephanie from SS Life & Style, Michelle from Take Aim, Jill from The August Diaries.
*Thank you Roots decking me out in warm winter accessories. Click for hat and scarf.
LUXE GIFTS FOR HER
Once a year I think it’s nice to spoil with something a little different and something very special. The below items range in price but they’re all luxe in their own way. Happy gift giving!
xo, Nathalie
Frank & Eileen Mary shirt dress. Christian Louboutin Anjalina heels.
LUXE WEAR
Frank & Eileen makes some of the most beautiful button up shirts. They’re classics with a modern twist and cut perfectly for a woman’s body. Fabrics are woven in Italy and then shipped to sunny California where they’re made. She’ll love the versatility of a shirt that can be dressed up, dressed down and can be paired beautifully with a pair of Loubs, because what girl doesn’t have these on her wish list? The iconic shoe will get her noticed everywhere and she’ll think of you overtime she wears them.
LUXE FRAGRANCE
Dyptique and Jo Malone make such beautiful gifts. Diana and I will be gifting each other the same set of Jo Malone candles for Christmas because we’re so obsessed. A travel sized cologne is also a good gift for the woman on the go. Diana, Michael and I all keep one in our bags.
Rodial Bee Venom Moisturizer, Serum, Eye Cream and Stemcell Glam Lip Balm.
LUXE SKINCARE
If you really want to impress her with skincare goodies, pick up these pieces from Rodial’s Bee Venom line up. The moisturizer, serum and eye cream, will melt beautifully into her skin and leave it feeling well balanced. The lip plumping lip balm might be a good add on to help her achieve Kylie Jenner lips without the fillers. I haven’t seen it lip my lips yet, but it is a damn good balm.
Daniel Wellington timepiece, Classy Sheffield and Classic Bristol.
LUXE TIMEPIECE
Ok so this one isn’t exactly luxe to the max but that’s ok. I’ve seen a wide variety of women sporting these timepieces. What I like is how everyone makes it their own based on their personal style. I just recently acquired the Classy Sheffield which features Swarovski crystals as numerals. It has a nice bit of sparkle without being too overt.
*Save 15% off on your daneilwellington.com purchase by use code WOAHSTYLE at checkout.
LUXE OUT
Chanel. Just get in there go pick something up for her. Just a little something. Anything.
Chanel goodies, $$$ - $$$$$.
7 Gifts For The Guy Who Has Everything
There comes a point were gift giving becomes more and more challenging, especially when the guy in your life already has everything he needs. I compiled this gift guide with the help of Geoff based on items he's been gifted recently and has ended up loving. I think there's something here for every man - dad, bro, cousin, colleague and hubby. Keep reading for gift inspo.
xo, Nathalie
Dewar's 12 year old Scotch Whisky. Nomad Coffee Club subscription. Roots cotton plaid scarf (similar here).
COZY NIGHTS
A bottle of scotch whisky will never be turned away at our home. We'll sometimes have a glass after work and cozy up on the couch with Netflix. Geoff normally drinks his on the rocks but I like mine neat. Since we're talking cozy drinks, Nomand Coffee Club offers subscriptions for a new roast of beans to be delivered straight to his door every month. Sign him up for 3 months or more, he'll love it. Finally, let him wrap up in cozy with a warm plaid scarf, the quintessential winter accessory.
Get 15% off your entire purchase on danielwellington.com with code WOAHSTYLE from now until January 15, 2016.
THE GIFT OF TIME
He'll really dig the no-fuss, minimal design on these Daniel Wellington watches. You can buy additional wrist straps for him so he can change up the look of his watch down the road. Geoff just recently acquired the Classic Glasgow wristband and he's been loving it. The Dapper series has a more elegant look and features Roman numerals, a date display and blue hands. From now until Jan 15th, I'm offering 15% off your entire purchase on danielwellington.com with code WOAHSTYLE.
THE GIFT OF TRAVEL
Do something crazy and spontaneous and if you can, gift him a plane ticket to somewhere you've never been before. Geoff and I are flying out to Banff and Lake Louise tomorrow and we can hardly wait! If you can't splurge on an entire trip, a passport holder makes an excellent, unexpected gift. Trust me, he'll love it when he uses it next!
Stolen Riches laces are the gift he didn't know he needed until now. At $20, they're perfect for stocking stuffers or as an add on gift.
THE GAME CHANGER
You wouldn't normally think of shoe laces when you're shopping for Xmas presents but trust me, these are a major game changers and his fancy new footwear will get him noticed at the office. In the pic above, Geoff's Varvatos lace-up boots feature the original laces and below, he's changed them up to the Moville Green boot lace from Stolen Riches. The brown and black Cole Haan oxfords already have SR laces on them, but below in the below pic how the brown pops to life with the green speckled laces. Finally, his Adidas Stan Smith's got a make over with these maroon sneaker laces. So, are you convinced yet?
THE GIFT OF AWESOME SKIN
Hopefully he won't turn his nose up at receiving moisturizer as a gift with a name like Dragon's Blood. This hyaluronic moisturizer from Rodial hydrates, protects and plumps skin. I've been trying to get Geoff to use moisturizer for years now and I'm finally breaking him down with this product.
Gifting: Sportswear Accessories for Him
For some reason, I always find it daunting to buy presents for the opposite sex. For example, I've been married for eight years now and my husband admitted to me recently that I "shop for myself" when I gift him something. (Case in point: the Tivoli radio I bought him was on my wish list forever. Whoops.) He's guilty of it too but in a different way. One year he gifted me snow boarding mittens (I don't snow board) and an alarm clock (I use my iPhone). It still makes me laugh when I think about it now. I think the secret to gifting is to remove your wants and needs from the equation and actually think about the other person. Admittedly, easier said than done.
My preferred gift for dudes this year seems to be the scarf. When my brother turned 30 in September, I gifted him a really beautiful Paul Smith scarf. His personal style is very simple but he loves scarves and his collection probably trumps mine. I'm also thinking of getting Geoff a luxurious scarf for Xmas because he's not the kind of person to buy himself one, but he's always wanted something he could have "forever".
I think this reversible wool scarf and hat from Lacoste make an excellent gift for dad, the bros, your hubby/ bf and your close guy friend. I've worn this scarf myself but Geoff really took a liking to it and claimed it as his own. (Merry Xmas honey. Just kidding!)
Since we're talking accessories, a backpack (similar here) is a cool gift to think about for the tech guy in your life. Just imagine gifting this with an assortment of his favourite candies!! It's an unexpected added touch and he'll really appreciate it.
xo, Nathalie
These reversible wool scarf and hat are so cute together, yet still appropriate for manly men!
A quick trip to the dollar store means you can fill up his backpack will all sorts of his favourite goodies!
Negative spacing.
THE GIFT FOR SOFT SKIN: FRESH COCOA & LIP TREATMENTS
I think the people at Fresh really know how to bring the concept of a spa and deliver it straight home. I know, I know. That sounds major cheese ball but it's true and that's what makes them such excellent gifts. Their body products and Lip Treatments are good for women who love to take care of their skin. Actually, I think the Cocoa products would even be a good gift for my blogger bestie, Michael from Global Garçon!
COCOA BODY EXFOLIATING
I love how Fresh launches these products just in time for the holidays! These are so beautiful, and gentle, and smell beyond decadent. The Cocoa Body Exfoliant and Cocoa Exfoliating Body Soap smell eerily close to the real deal and left me craving brownies post shower.
Crushed cocoa, crushed coconut shells, cocoa butter and coconut oil to gently buff skin. It felt much nicer than the abrasive sugar and salt scrubs that I've tried in the past and they don't feel oily. I hope they add a body cream to this line because it's that good. I can almost see it now, a 3 piece set for next Xmas, cocoa soap, cocoa body scrub, cocoa cream. Can I market that? (Ok Fresh. You can hire me now!)
Anyway, gift this to your bath time loving, chocoholic friend as the ultimate indulgent gift. (Like what I did there?)
LIP TREATMENT GIFT SET
I like these products just fine but I don't LOVE them. But Diana, WoahStyle beauty contributor, sure does. According to her last review, she attributes her 10 year relationship with her BF to this product. Based on a lot of your comments on my Instagram account, you guys do too, and that says a lot! This set makes an excellent gift on its own, or you can break it up and use the individual tubes as a stocking stuffer, or include it with an Xmas card for your cafe lady (is that weird?). That's why I decided I'm going to be gifting this exact Lip Treatment set to one of you guys. Stay tuuuuuuned!!!!
Chocolate can be harmful to cats and dogs but Theo doesn't know any better. I'm not sure if the same can be said for the Cocoa bath products, but I don't want to take a chance. I banned him from the set soon after this.
These items were gifted but all opinions here are my own.
#lovewhatyougive
Alright guys. Welcome to my 2015 Gift Guide. I'll be updating this section right up until Xmas to bring you ideas of what to get everyone on your list, from your loved ones to the people who-you're-not-too-keen-on-but-have-to-give-them-a-gift-anyway. (We all have one of those.) If you have any great gift ideas let me know! I'd love to hear it. ;)
This holiday season I’ve teamed up with Gap, Banana Republic and Old Navy to bring you guys this holiday gift guide. You’ve probably already seen me wearing some pieces from their fall/ winter collection, like these jeans from BR that crazy comfortable and inexpensive. I normally wear Jbrand and Rag & Bone jeans and I think these are a great alternative to designer denim. Just make sure you go down a size.
Since the theme with my Gap collab is all about giving, #lovewhatyougive, I felt it was appropriate to share my gift cards with my hubby (aka. photographer) and Diana, my BFF/ beauty contributor. I went shopping with them both and collectively, we came up with these items here.
COZY KNITS
I got one. Diana got one. Geoff got two (here and here). Cozy chunky knits are a great gift idea for Xmas. If you're unsure about the colour, go with a neutral like grey, ivory or beige and go light on the pattern (like the cardi Diana chose).
ACCESSORIES
I bought this pretty, faux-leather, gold clutch for a lovely colleague of mine who was leaving my workplace. Inside I included a couple of makeup goodies to surprise her and she LOVED it!
A clutch like this one, a makeup bag, a wrap bracelet, a scarf, a pom pom beanie, these are the kind of gifts that are excellent for someone you're not sure what to get, or even as an add on.
COATS & DENIM
So just before this collab landed on my desk, I had made a trip to Old Navy with Diana. I was floored with their prices! That day I bought a pair of work out pants because I wanted a good alternative to Lululemon's. (BTW, the ON version are legit.) I had never really shopped at Old Navy, but they have great basics and they look luxe when paired with other key pieces. I picked up an olive wrap coat as a layering piece for myself, but I could also see my mum wearing this.
Like I already mentioned, I'm loving BR denim right now.They're an excellent alternative to their designer counterparts, and they're super affordable, especially when topped off with a promo code. I'd like more of these in my life so maybe I'll put them on my holiday wish list. ; )
I had such a great time working on this collab and in part it's because I shared the "wealth" with Geoff and Diana. We all found that it's super easy to be thoughtful with gift giving from all three brands and they're all pretty affordable. Gap, Banana and Old Navy also have promo codes a-plenty this time of year, meaning you get more bang for your buck.
xo,
Nathalie
REVIEW: Holiday Kits from Benefit Cosmetics
I've been holding out on you guys because I wanted to wait until November to talk about these amazing holiday kits from Benefit. I received 3 of the 7 kits to review and share with you here. Let's get to it!
First of all, I love the packaging on these kits so much because they're not holiday specific, which means they're perfect for gifting outside of Xmas. I'm sure any of you December babies will agree when I say that I hate being gypped on my bday. (Dec 21st!!) "I got you a bday present but it's also combined with Xmas. Hope you don't mind!" Sure. Let me pull that on you in July and see how you feel. Bday bitterness aside, I think these makeup kits are perfect for anyone at anytime! If last year was any indication, Benefit's holiday kits always do really well and they do sell out, so grab yours fast.
All of the kits come packed in pretty, keepsake metal tins, containing some of Benefit's best sellers. These kits are great for gifting to: your kid sister, cousin, holiday hostess, mum, BFF, the woman in your life who likes makeup but doesn't realize she loves it, yourself (duh!) and maybe the guy you know who has his own YouTube makeup channel. Pretty much, anyone who likes makeup! I really can't image anyone not liking these kits, especially when they contain such classic and flattering colours.
LIFE OF THE PARTY, FULL FACE KIT
Limited Edition, Exclusively at Shoppers Drug Mart, $43
This is my favourite of the three kits they sent me because it's as close to a full-face-in-a-box as you're going to get. I can see myself traveling with this kit or brining it along to events if I need a touch up. All that's missing is the foundation and concealer but I don't mind because like so many others, I'm really picky with those. In this kit you will get:
- The POREfessional (mini, 7.5mL)
- They’re Real! Mascara (mini)
- Dandelion/Rockateur (split pan)
- Longwear Powder Shadow in Taupe It Off, Nude Swings & Call My Buff
- Benetint (mini, 4 mL)
- A mini face powder brush
- A double-ended sponge applicator
REAL CHEEKY PARTY, BLUSH KIT
Limited Edition, Exclusively at Sephora, $54
My BFF, Diana, is a minimal makeup wearer. She loves that natural, glowy, no-makeup look, that I only wish I could pull off. When she saw this kit, she called dibs. I don't blame her and if she wasn't my BFF and a contributor for my Beauty page, I'd tell her to back off! This kit is perfect for all year round because it contains your highlighter, contour, pinks and corals all in one kit. LOOOOVE! You will get:
- They’re Real! Mascara (mini)
- They’re Real! Push-Up Liner (mini)
- Dandelion Brightening Face Powder (pale-pink, pressed highlighting powder)
- Sugarbomb Face Powder (four unique shades of rose, shimmering pink, soft plum, and peach blend that blend together perfectly for a "sugar rush flush")
- Hoola Bronzer (the ultimate contour shade)
- CORALista Face Powder (coral pink sheen)
- Rockateur Cheek Powder (rose gold)
- Watt’s Up! (champagne highlighter)
PRET-A-PARTY, MAKEUP KIT
Limited Edition, Exclusively at Sephora, $64
This kit only has four items and costs a little more than the others, but that's because you're getting a full sized bottle of the iconic Benetint and a full sized They're Real! Mascara. BTW- if you haven't tried The POREfessional, I'm telling you now, you will love it. I wear it anytime I'm shooting for the blog or have an event. It fills in large pores and primes really well. The Pret-A-Party kit contains:
- They’re Real! Mascara (full size)
- Benetint (full size)
- The POREfessional (mini, 7.5mL)
- Fakeup Undereye Hydrating Concealer in Medium (mini size)
