How to make a hotel bed at home

Let me preface this article by telling you that I am not one of those people who is blessed with the ability to fall asleep as soon as my head hits the pillow. No. Not me. That’s Geoff and I resent him for it. (Not really because that would be mean. O.K. Just a little.)

My sleeping habits go a little something like this:
I take forever to fall asleep. Seriously sometimes it takes me hours. 
I read to help me fall asleep.
I take melatonin.
I watch Netflix. 
I check out Tumblr and Pinterest. 
And if I’m really desperate, I online shop until I drop.

When the lovely people at Casper sent me a new mattress, I decided it was the best time to convert my bed into a hotel bed in hopes of finally being able to get some luxurious sleep. 

I saw Diana (BFF/ contributing beauty writer for WS) go through this whole “bed obsessed” phase when she moved into her condo. I never understood it until now. The moment that Casper box landed on my doorstep, something took over me and a sleep-crazed monster was created. So without any further delay, let’s jump right into How To Make A Hotel Bed At Home in 8 easy steps. 

STEP 1

Get a good mattress because it makes all the difference in the world. Casper offers one type of mattress in 6 sizes, from Twin to Cali King. I wish I had a proper video to show you guys the whole unboxing, because these babies come rolled up in a cello wrap and then boxed into a… box! (It’s pretty cool. Google Casper unboxing video. Do it.) But enough about size and packages because this mattress is super comfy, perfectly firm and is the right base for creating a hotel bed.

STEP 2

You know that cozy feeling when you sink into a hotel bed and you never want to leave? Well that comes from the featherbed topper. I went with a “faux featherbed” aka, Gel Microfibre Down Alternative, because I wanted a cruelty free version. 

STEP 3

Get yourself a big cozy duvet. There are plenty of cruelty free versions out there that give you the same fluffy comfort as the down filled ones. 

STEP 4

Pillows! I have a king bed so I have 2 king pillows and 4 standard pillows. 4-6 pillows is hotel-bed-acceptable but anything more is excessive. 

STEP 5

Luxurious, 300 thread count, 100% cotton sheets is where it’s at. Most luxury hotels have beautiful while fluffy beds so make sure to get white sheets.
 

STEP 6

Your duvet cover should be the same as above: 300, 100% and white. 

STEP 7

Keep your side tables clean and beautiful. Fresh florals and a scented candle will make you feel like you’ve transported to a heavenly sleepy place ready for slumber. 

STEP 8

Climb into bed with silky pjs, or no pjs if that’s your jam, and get a good nights' sleep.

Bon nuit. 

*Special thanks to Casper for helping me create this story. All opinions and photos are my own.

HOW TO SAVE MONEY LIKE A PRO

Let’s talk about money for a second. It’s a sensitive topic and no one likes to talk about it but I think it’s important. Trust me, I’ve learned the hard way.

When I was a teenager, I went out and got my first job so I could buy clothes. Saving wasn’t part of my plan and was more like a foreign concept to me that only adults had to deal with. I just wanted new stuff so I could keep up with the trends in Vogue and Harper’s Bazaar. I was a delusional kid living vicariously through fashion magazines. Not good.

A few years later I went off to college and surprise, surprise - I blew more money on clothes. I was at the Gap weekly stocking up on what? New khaki’s?! Who knows!

When school ended, reality hit and I started getting bills. First for my new car - a shiny red Volkswagen Beetle that I loved more then anything, and then for my student loans. So much for blowing all of my dinero on clothes.

The next years were similar – pay bills, spend the rest on clothes. At this point I knew I needed to save so I could move out and I promised myself, “next pay, next pay”. Needless to say it never amounted to anything.

The thing is I never learned about money until I met Geoff. Living with my boyfriend, now husband, meant I was paying for groceries and paying a mortgage. If I wanted something, I had to save because there was no way my marketing assistant job would allow me to buy a designer bag or a new wardrobe every couple of weeks.

I’m telling you guys this story because I know I’m not alone. I was financially irresponsible for so long and it turns out all I needed was a no-brainer savings account to help me save for a rainy day.

HOW TO SAVE $$$ LIKE A PRO

First, set yourself up with a Good to Grow High Interest Savings Account. That’s a no brainer right?

Meridian has just launched their “Sweep feature" – a service that links your chequing account with a high interest savings account, making it easy to save money.

HOW IT WORKS

•      You get to set a maximum and minimum transaction account balance, and each night, Sweep feature will transfer funds from the chequing account to the high interest savings account or vice versa to keep you on track with your goals.
•      If the balance exceeds the set maximum, the Sweep feature will transfer the excess funds back into the high interest savings to boost your savings.
•      In case your chequing account balance dips below the set minimum, Sweep will automatically rollover funds from the high interest savings account. This is excellent so you’re never overdrawn.

Currently this is the only type of service like this in Canada with the high interest savings account of 1.50%. There are no monthly account fees and you can access your money 24/7 either online or through the phone.

To sign up, visit Meridian online or sign up in person at one of their locations.

This post was sponsored by Meridian. All opinions and pictures are my own.

FANCY THINGS YOU NEED NOW: SODASTREAM

Written by: Diana Aldea
Photography by: Nathalie Martin

Everyone knows that drinking water's good for you. But it can get boring, fast. SodaStream has been around for a while, and everyone I know who has one, loves it. While it seems like a fancy gadget for fancy people, it really isn't. Here's three reasons why you need a SodaStream in your life.

1. YOU'RE CHEAP

I'm guilty of spending a lot of money on sparkling water. On average, my boyfriend and I buy 2-3 bottles of Perrier or San Pellegrino a week. Nathalie, Michael of Global Garçon and I have been spending a lot of time at Beaumont Kitchen. Every time we go - we order sparkling water for the table - and it's $3 per person for unlimited bottles throughout the evening. That's $9 for a few bottles of tap water that they likely carbonated through a SodaStream. That shit's gotta stop. 

While I'm not exactly cheap, I want to be. I want to save my money for important things like a trip, a new bag, or (gasp) my retirement savings. I did the math and in my household, we spend over $200 annually on fizzy, f*cking water. I did some more math and it costs us .67 cents to make a litre of sparkling water with the SodaStream. If we did this all year, we'd save nearly $100. 

While we don't drink a lot of soda, but we have frequent visitors who do (hi mom). It's simple and easy to make flavouring for your carbonated water. But, if you're lazy (like me), you can also buy the SodaStream branded syrups for under $10. These could last for months if you're using them for only a few bottles a week. For extra points, buy the syrups at Bed Bath & Beyond when they've got a 20% off coupon, which they send out monthly.

So if you're cheap - or aspiring to be - the SodaStream is a good option for those who like things a little fizzy. 

2. YOU'RE LAZY

A long time ago, being lazy meant littering and throwing recyclable items in the garbage. Those days are long gone. Now, being lazy is letting the recycling in your condo get out of control and getting into screaming matches with your partner about who's turn it is to take it downstairs. Oh, don't pretend this hasn't happened to you.

One of the great things about the SodaStream is that you'll always reuse the same bottles. A majority of the bottles that the brand sells are even dishwasher safe. They're also very modern looking, which is great for presentation purposes - especially when you have fancy friends over for dinner parties. Or in my case, when Nathalie comes over to binge on cheese pizza, drink fizzy citrus water and watch way too many episodes of the Kardashians (love you most, Khloé). 

"I love carrying heavy groceries" - said no one, ever.

When you buy bottled anything, it adds so much weight to your groceries. While that's great for your triceps and biceps, it's still a pain. For those of you who get enough of a workout at the gym, or carrying your dog, child, whatever - the SodaStream is awesome. You'll have sparkling water in minutes from tap water and it's pretty awesome to watch. 

3. YOU'RE A CONTROL FREAK

I once worked with a woman who ate NO sugar whatsoever. She even limited the amount of spinach she ate, as it "breaks down into sugar, y'know". I thought she was a little nuts, but she was bikini-ready all year long, so who was I to hate? 

For those who like a little sugar in their bevvy - but want to control exactly how much goes in - the SodaStream is perfect. As I mentioned, you can buy the brand's syrups, but there are literally thousands of recipes for homemade soda flavourings online. Over the weekend, Nathalie came over and cut up some fruit and we put it into bottles of extra carbonated SodaStream water. Being able to choose your level of carbonation is awesome and I put it on the highest setting because I LIKE TO LIVE DANGEROUSLY.

We ended up taking a bottle to my boyfriend's parents for dinner the next evening and it was a hit. They too buy multiple bottles of San Pellegrino a week, and I saw that spendy glimmer is his dad's eye. I'd be surprised if they don't have one by the summer.

Spring's finally here and summer's just around the corner. Pretty sure I'll be using it a lot, making tons of seasonal drinks that make me look way more Martha than I actually am.

[The Soda Stream Power was provided to WoahStyle.com but all opinions are my own.]

LA STREET STYLE

Better late than never. Here's one of my fave looks from LA - Chaser tank, denim shorts and a pair of ankle boots. It doesn't get more LA than this. 
xo

I QUIT

I did it. I finally quit my day job! 

Bring out the champagne or Campari (LOL) because this calls for celebration! 

This whole time I've had a clear vision of what I want WoahStyle to be in the future and it's paid off. In the upcoming months you can look forward to seeing more beauty posts, product reviews and, tutorials. I'll bring you guys more informational posts post about trends and how to style your current wardrobe. I'll also be posting more often (yay) because I want WoahStyle to be an information hub of all things fashion, makeup and lifestyle. 

Happy Sunday, thanks for reading and go out and enjoy the beautiful day! 

xo, Nathalie

PHOTOGRAPHY BY: MICHAEL BIRO, GLOBAL GARÇON

NEW YORK STREET STYLE

Packing for a 48 hour trip to New York was a little daunting in the sense that I wanted to take everything with me and yet I was limited to what I could fit in a carry on. I'm always inclined to pack more than I need "just in case" but also to shoot my outfits for street style photography. I mean, part of the fun in traveling is bringing you guys new content right? After some thought and careful editing, I packed a couple of jeans, leggings, some tees and of course a leather jacket. Shoe wise I went with my trusty ankle boots and these amazing red lace up heels from Town Shoes. I was drawn to this shoe immediately because they're so feminine and have that beautiful lace up detail that's so on trend right now. Even though I'm a shortie standing at 5'4", I feel like these shoes make my legs look super long, which is something every short girl wishes for. They made their debut in NY and next up is Toronto Fashion Week! Where do your shoes take you? ;)

xo, Nathalie

SHOP THE LOOK

PHOTOGRAPHY BY: Diana Aldea
LOCATION: Chelsea, New York City

MY NYC TRAVEL OUTFIT

Bonastare Backpack from NY, boutique, Roztayger.com. (Exact here, currently on sale.)

PHOTOGRAPHY BY: Diana Aldea
LOCATION: Chelsea Market, New York City

Romantic Getaway: Prince Of Wales Hotel

With Valentine’s Day just around the corner and my being in LA, Geoff and I decided to move up the romantic holiday and celebrated last weekend. Honestly, our whole approach for Vday is generally very casual and we usually just do with a home cooked meal and maybe a little gift for each other. This year we had the chance to do something different and headed out to wine country as guests of The Prince Of Wales hotel.

It’s crazy to think back on all of the memories we have in this area starting from when we got engaged. The story goes like this: It was our first time at NOTL. After a quick lunch we walked around the main street and ended up at the cute park across the street from the Prince of Wales. It was November and these massive fluffy snowflakes had just started falling from the sky. I’m not even kidding guys, it was just like the movies! It was as picturesque as it could get and the next thing I know Geoff is holding out an engagement ring. Me being the dummy I am, was so caught off guard that that I asked him if it was really happening and if the ring was real! I always manage to say something stupid! 

Fast forward to a few months later. We’re trying to plan our wedding and got to the point where we feel like we'd exhausted every venue and idea. Out of the blue a colleague of mine forwards me an email for weddings at the Pillar And Post, one of the other Vintage Hotel locations in NOTL. We go, we see and we fall in love with the location. A couple of months later, we get married there. 

It feels like so crazy long ago now. We’ve celebrated so many anniversaries at the Vintage Hotels and we've even invited Diana and her BF along to vacation with us. No word of a lie, it’s become a very special place for them too. Going back to NOTL as guests of the Prince Of Wales was the perfect pre-Vday getaway. I know I’m getting a little cheeseball and sentimental here but hey, it’s the Valetine’s Day weekend so let’s just roll with it. ;) 

Throughout the years we’ve visited each of the Vintage Hotel locations but P&P is still our fave for obvious reasons. We’ve swam at the pools of the Queens Landing, got married at the Pillar And Post and had the best high tea ever at Prince Of Wales. 

The quaint British charm at POW just adds to the whole experience. Their staff is super friendly and helpful and when I called on the Friday night saying I couldn’t check in until the following morning due to a cat sitter mix up, they were willing to accodmate in our potentially brining our fur babies on holiday with us. (Shoutouts to Haze at the front desk for listening to my hysteria over cats!!) With the cat sitter issue resolved we headed up early Saturday morning and the best pre-Vday getaway we could ask for. 

Thanks so much to the team at The Vintage Hotels and special thanks to Erica, Hazel and the staff at Prince Of Wales. We can’t wait to make it back. :)

xo, Nathalie

WHAT I'M WEARING
WINDSOR STORE, pajama henley romper
JENNY BIRD, serpent bracelet
COLOUR POP, matte liquid lipstick in Avenue
FORMULA X, nail polish in Fahrenheit 
LISBETH JEWELLERY, star necklace available in silver

SHOT ON LOCATION AT THE PRINCE OF WALES, VINTAGE HOTELS, NIAGARA ON THE LAKE, ON

Valentine's day casual

If you guys follow me on snapchat (@woahstyle) and Instagram, you'll already know that I spent a weekend getaway in beautiful Niagara On The Lake at the Prices Of Wales hotel. Geoff and I love this area for so many reasons but mainly because we got engaged and married there. I'll upload my travel pics for you guys soon but first, I'll want to show you a different kind of Valentine's Day outfit we shot while we were there.

Normally I wear baggy tshirts but since we were on a romantic getaway, I thought I'd go for a more body hugging top and reached for my henley romper. It's actually a pj romper but I really like how it looks with jeans. I mean, it's like a body suit right so who cares if I'm wearing pj's in the daytime! A Kooples blazer and Alexander Wang boots meant I was date night appropriate. For a little contrast I went for my Boston bag instead of the predictable night-on-the-town clutch and accessorized with these brass hoops that I got during a Jenny Bird site sale. You guys know me, I always need to add a twist to my outfits, as subtle as they might be. A dark lippie finished off my look and I was ready to head out.

I think this is a good Valentine's Day look if you're doing something low key but still want to dress up more than your everyday jeans and tee. Alternatively, you can go for all black which you know I'm a fan of. ;)

xo, Nathalie 

WHAT I'M WEARING
WINDSOR STORE, pj romper
JBRAND, jeans
THE KOOPLES, black blazer
JENNY BIRD, brass hoop earrings
LISBETH JEWELRY, star necklace (Sold out. Silver available here)
GUCCI, Boston bag (exact)
ALEXANDER WANG, black ankle boots
COLOUR POP, ultra matte lippe in Avenue