THE ULTIMATE HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE FOR HER
For this holiday gift guide I have teamed up with some of my favourite brands to show you the very best of gift giving! There's enough variety in here to give you ideas on what to get the woman in your life - mum, wife, bff, sister, cousin, hostess, etc - at a variety of prices. If you like these gifts check back weekly because I'll be updating this page with more ideas as we near the holidays.
Oh - and if there's anything that you're lusting after, know that I'll be hosting a giveaway featuring some of the very goodies found here. (Watch my Stories daily for more info!)
FRAGRANCES + PERFUMES
- MARC JACOBS DECADENCE, $65.
Travel size trio of MJ's Decadence scent. Qualitative. Opulent. Surprising. Italian Plum, Iris Flower, Saffron, Bulgarian Rose, Jasmine Sambac, Orris, Vetiver, Papyrus Woods, Liquid Amber. - GIORGIO ARMANI Si Perfum, $30 - $199.
Graceful, modern and unconventional. Notes: Chypre, Blackcurrant Nectar, Airy Florals, Musky Blond Wood. - ETAT LIBRE d'ORANGE Noel Au Balcon, $105 - $185.
Cozy. Festive. Mischievous. Notes: Honey, Tangerine, Vanilla, Cinnamon From Sri Lanka, Nigella, Red Pepper, Apricot, Patchouli, Solar Musk Accord. - MARC JACOBS DAISY Rollerball Trio, $59.
Travel size rollerballs of MJ's iconic Daisy scents: Daisy, Daisy Eau so Fresh and Daisy Dream. - MIU MIU perfum, $35 - $130.
Feminine. Youthful. Sophisticated. Notes: Star Anise, Ginger, Green Lily of the Valley, Blooming Lily of the Valley, Jasmine Petal, Rose, Akigalawood, Sandalwood, Nirvanolide. - PHILOSOPHY Amazing Grace, limited edition, $60.
Feminine. Beautiful. Clean. Notes: Bergamot, Muguet Blossoms, Musk.
MAKEUP + BEAUTY
7. MAC COSMETICS, Nutcracker set $36.
Four high gloss nude lippies.
8. CLÉ DE PEAU BEAUTÉ, $90 - $680.
Luxury makeup & skincare in limited edition holiday packaging and colours for 2016. Brush set ($250), lip palette ($90), eye shadow palette ($160), and face cream ($680).
9. OPI x KERRY WASHINGTON nail polish, $10 - $12
10. ARTIS BRUSH, Elite Collection 5 brush set, $165 (USD)
Brush set includes; Circle 1, Linear 1, Oval 6, Oval 4 and Oval 3
11. ARTIS BRUSHES, Elite Collection #7 oval, $65 (USD)
12. SMASHBOX, Light It Up Holiday Lip Gloss set, $25.
13. PIXI BY PETRA, Limited Edition Holiday Sets, $12 - $34 (USD)
Ultimate Beauty Kit 3rd Edition ($34), 5 Eye pencil kit ($22), 5 Fairy Dust loose eyeshadows ($12)
14. PIXI BY PETRA, Glow Tonic & Skintreat must haves, $10 - $29 (USD)
15. BITE BEAUTY, Discovery Set, $45
A four piece set containing; Amuse Bouche Lipstick in Beetroot, Agave Lip Mask, Matte Crème Lip Crayon in Leche, Line & Define Primer.
16. BITE BEAUTY, Matte Crème Lip Crayon Collection, $360
The ultimate lip lovers kit; set of 18 full sized shades in a reusable tin.
HOME + ENTERTAINING
17. NESPRESSO Holiday sets and coffee $8.50 - $36.
Six limited edition coffee flavours and limited porcelain cups designed by Lorenzo Petrantoni. Clear cube capsule container also from Nespresso.
18. SAJE NATURAL WELLNESS, Best of Saje Wellness kit, $95 (sold out online but check in stores!)
Contains; Ultrasonic Diffuser, Liquid Sunshine oil, Relax-O-Ring, Peppermint Halo Remedy, Immune Remedy.
19. SAJE NATURAL WELLNESS, $28 - $30.
Electric Ceramic Diffuser with light ($30) and Good Cheers (limited edition, $28) oil blends in Peppermint Twist, Tree Scents and Celebrate.
20. DIPTYQUE, Softening Hand Wash, $53
Mild, soothing, repairing. This liquid soap gently cleanses and nourishes the hands. Lavender floral water purifies and comforts the skin.
BODY + HAIR
21. THE BODY SHOP Shea Premium gift set, $45
Contains; Shower Cream, Body Butter, Body Scrub, Body Mist and Hand Cream
22. DYSON SUPERSONIC HAIR DRYER, $500
23. L'Oréal PROFESSIONNEL styling products (available in salons)
24. PHILOSOPHY Hollyberries Holiday Set, $32
Contains; Hollyberries shower gel and body lotion
25. THE BODY SHOP, Festive Body Body Trio, $15
Contains scents; Vanilla Chai, Spiced Apple and, Frosted Berries
26. THE BODY SHOP Hemp Manicure gift set, $21
Contains: Hemp Hand Cream, nail file, nail buffer, nail clipper
PARTY READY IN 60 MINS OR LESS
It's the holidays and your in-laws call to say they're gonna drop by in an hour for a little impromptu get together. Your fridge is empty and there's no way you're about to whip up a four course meal cuz hey, you're not Martha and who has the time anyway? Chill, take a deep breathe and get the cocktail napkins out because I'm going to tell you how to throw an impressive party in 60 mins or less.
Pre-party prep
You might need to make a quick stop to your local store but fear not, what you need to pick up is super easy: sweets, savoury, booze and some more Nespresso capsules if you're running low.
Nespresso has beautiful limited edition porcelain cups ($32 for a set of 2) that are perfect for the holidays or year round. They make an excellent gift and they look good on any dining table.
1. COFFEE STATION
Gather up your cups and saucers and stack them next to your Nespresso on your dining room table because you'll be using it as food station for the night. Nespresso is an incredibly user friendly coffee machine so anyone can help themselves to a cup of coffee. Best of all they have six limited edition flavours that are appropriately festive for this time of year:
Linzer Torte (red fruits flavour, for the Original Line Nespresso)
Sachertorte (reminiscent of soft chocolate and apricot, for the Original Line)
Apfelstrudel (apple & cinnamon flavour, for the Original Line)
Pumpkin Spice Cake (for the Vertuoline Nespresso)
Banana Bread (for the Vertuoline)
Gingerbread (for the Vertuoline)
NESPRESS LIMITED EDITION VARIATION FLAVOURS
SHOP NESPRESSO ACCESSORIES
2. SWEETS + DESSERTS
Next to your Nespresso set up a dessert station. Macarons and pastries from Butter Avenue are always a big hit in my family. A small cake will go along way as well as cupcakes or cookies, whatever you prefer.
3. SAVOURY
Crackers, aged cheddar, almonds, olives and gourmet jerky from Krave all make a good savoury platter for meat eaters and vegetarians alike. I fall into the latter category and haven't eaten meat in years but the meat eaters in my family are all fans of the gourmet jerky brand.
4. BOOZE + WINE
Finally, have some wine ready on hand alongside some good scotch, ice and drinking glasses and you're set! You should have enough time to touch up your makeup and have a seat before the doorbell rings. Happy entertaining!
This post is sponsored by Nespresso.
All photos and opinoions are my own.
WHAT MAKES A RELATIONSHIP SUCCESSFUL
As mentioned in my previous post my best friend of over 20 years is getting married in a weeks time to her long time boyfriend. This topic has got me thinking about my own marriage and what it takes to make a relationship successful and really, what does a successful relationship even mean?
Geoff and I have been together for 10 years now, married for eight and fought hard & ugly for the first couple of years. There was a point where I thought our marriage was going to end and I wasn't sure if we'd ever get past it. We don't have kids (more on that at a later time) but we have two amazing cats that are part of our little family, funny since neither of us were "cat people" when we adopted our first.
But back to the first few years of marriage. Without getting into too much detail and respecting our privacy I'll tell you that in hindsight we were fighting about everything a newly married couple might fight about - meddling family members, chores, how to spilt up the holidays, where to hang the art work, money, laundry, our different personalities, groceries, and so on. You name it and it was probably a point of contention for us.
We'd already been living together for a year before we got married but after the wedding every part of our normal day to day lives seemed so much more forced and suddenly we weren't meshing. The tension in our marriage but so bad that I found myself looking for apartments one day and that's when it occurred to me, I didn't want to live in my own shitty apartment, I wanted to live with Geoff and follow through with the commitment we had made.
After that we sat down and had a good long talk about why we were so upset with each other and what we were going to do to move forward. Getting to the point of being honest wasn't easy but it was necessary and it helped us mend our marriage and now I'm happy to say we're rock solid.
As Geoff and I near 9 years of marriage I can tell you from my personal experience what makes a relationship successful:
Forgiveness.
Acceptance.
Honesty.
Humour.
Respect. (This is a big one people!)
Even now we're still figuring things out as we grow. Geoff still annoys me and I annoy him but we laugh off the small stuff. Our love and respect for each other outweighs everything. I'm thankful to have him as my partner because he is truly an amazing person and I can't imagine my life without him.
SHOP MY LOOK
I'm wearing: Mackage winter coat, H&M knit, old Banana Republic jeans, Town Shoes boots, Ray Ban aviators.
SHOP MY WINTER BOOTS @TOWNSHOES
Pajar Alice boots with red plaid detail from Town Shoes.
Shot in Thorbury, ON during a weekend spent visiting my in-laws.
This post is sponsored by Town Shoes. All photos and opinion are my own.
THE POWER OF POSITIVE THINKING
As I write this my entire house is in chaos as I gear towards holiday mode. Gift sets and press releases are all over my living room floor along with my studio lights, cameras and props. Geoff begs me to tidy the mess and I swear to him that I'm trying in between getting work done and searching for a dress for my BFF's upcoming nuptials. She's my very best friend in the whole world; like a sister really and we've known each other since we were 10. She's marrying her long time boyfriend over what she calls a "boozy brunch" because she can't fully admit to herself that it's a real wedding.
In the middle of wedding planning there are also birthdays - hers, her boyfriends and mine. Not to mention the holiday events (!!!)- my husbands company Xmas party (which I cringe at each year seeing I have social anxiety) and then all of the industry events that come with blogging.
Life is a little chaotic right now but even still I try to carve out the time to see the good in everything and be thankful. I know it's major cheezy but it helps because you know what, life is tough and it can really suck if you let it get the best of you. Take the time to connect with the people you love and appreciate what you have each and every single day.
I know in time I'll find something to wear to my best friend's wedding and that samples in my living room will be put away. At the end of the day those are trivial things and having time to spend with my hubby and my family are so much more important.
I'll leave you guys on that note for now and promise to get more real on the blog cuz sometimes we all just need a bit of honesty.
SHOP LARSSON & JENNINGS LUGANO WATCH
Get 15% off Larsson & Jennings with code LJ15.
Washed out tunic from Sanctuary Clothing.
SHOP MY LOOK
I'm wearing: Aritzia coat, Sanctuary Clothing top, Equipment skinny scarf (from the Kate Moss collab), Rag & Bone jeans, TOMS sunglasses, Chanel patent leather jumbo flap bag, Saint Laurent Candy Platform boots, Tom Binns nail bracelet and Vita Fede rings from Black Caviar.
Bracelets and silver rings from Black Caviar in downtown Oakville.
This post is sponsored by Larsson and Jennings. All opinions are my own.
SHOP SALES LIKE A PRO & GET WHAT YOU WANT
It’s that wonderful time again in between American Thanksgiving and Christmas: Black Friday! My first stop every year is Shopbop, where designer pieces are up to 55% off. Take a deep breath, go forth and shop. Before you do, I’ve got some tips for those going out for the hunt.
- Buy what you need and love– Stocking up on basics is always a good idea. Been obsessing over a piece all season? Go on and get it, it’s time. Also, think about what events you’ve got coming up. Sale season is a great time to pick up amazing and elaborate pieces at a fraction of the cost.
- Buy early – Colours and sizes go fast, so make sure to buy it when you see it.
- Don’t get distracted by the cost or the label – Yes, it’s designer. Yes, it’s in your size. Would you buy it if it wasn’t on sale? If no, move on girl.
HERE'S WHAT I GOT DURING THE BLACK FRIDAY SALES
- BLACK JEANS – I have a million of them but these Rag & Bones have the most amazing detail on the hem making them the first item to hit my shopping cart
- PLATFORM BOOTS – Vetements did them last season and I can’t get them out of my head. Yoyo Kulala wore them best and I’m hoping I can bring the same justice to these super rad boots.
- COFFEE TABLE BOOKS – I’ve been on a decorating kick recently some new coffee table books are just what I need. If you don’t already know, Shopbop has a GIFT shop which includes coffee table books and other goodies that make easy (and shopping for ourselves) easy. I grabbed the Kate Moss/ Mario Testino book and Breakfast Love to get me re-inspired on making my favourite meal of the day.
What will you be looking for this sale season and what have you already bought?
Necklace and ring by Lisbeth Jewelry.
This post is sponsored by SHOPBOP.
All photos and opinions are my own.
DYSON SUPERSONIC: VIDEO REVIEW
This post is in collaboration with Dyson and T3.
All opinions are my own.
LIFE LESSONS: DRESS TO IMPRESS YOURSELF
You ever come across those accounts on Instagram where everyone dresses the same? They eat the same foods, pose the same and they all dress alike. They're highly popular and they're beautiful accounts but they're also annoying. Why? Because they all look the same! Now let's translate that into real life. Fashion has a tendency to turn us into clones and it needs to stop.
You guys know I'm most comfortable wearing jeans and a t-shirt and an statement shoe. I do this because I love it, it's who I am. I appreciate comfort above everything but I still want to stand out in my own way. Makes sense right?
As a 15 year old - I had long dark hair in loose fizzy waves and wore lots of eyeliner. I lived in concert tees from my faves; Pearl Jam, Soundgarden, Nirvana, and Nine Inch Nails paired with my father's old paint splattered jeans almost daily. I'd pop in a tape (remember tapes?) and I'd curl up in bed and read Vogue and Bazaar, drooling over the runway looks from Marc Jacobs, Todd Oldham and Isaac Mizrahi who where HUGE at the time. (Actually MJ's debut collection for Perry Ellis cost him his job but look at him now!)
It was the 90s people and I was growing up in the era of grunge music and supermodels and it left a deep imprint of what my personal style would eventually become.
Fast forward to now. I dress for me and I only buy what I love. I don't have time to fill my closet with nonsense and I don't have time to dress for other people. Women of all ages have always gravitated towards my style and it always surprises me because I'm not exactly conventional. And yet at the same time, is it possible these women are drawn to the authenticity of my style? Perhaps. Regardless I'm thankful because even though it may sound a tad superficial, it's been a fun way of meeting new people.
For all of you still looking to define your personal style just remember to dress for yourself - dress for your body type and not the trends and above all else, wear what makes you happy. Experiment with different looks and have fun. Life is too short to confine yourself to looking like everyone else don't you agree?
PERSONALIZE IT
I bought this shrunken military jacket on Free People recently and the pins during the summer. I just transferred them over to this jacket for a little pizazz and personality. My double stone ring is from designer Lisbeth Jewelry who happens to make my favourite pieces season after season.
SHOP THE LOOK
The jeans I'm wearing are from Forever 21. I simply cut the holes in the knees myself.
Special thanks to Frank & Eileen Tee Labs for always keeping me comfortable and cozy in their cool basics. I'm wearing the Ultimate Layer tank in the colour Lucky.
SHOP MILITARY STYLE COATS & JACKETS
*In collaboration with Frank & Eileen.
HOW TO DRESS FOR THE WEIRD WEATHER
If there's one thing we can all agree on right now is how weird the weather has been recently and the WTF moment as Trump won the election. But we're not going to get into the latter because this isn't a political post.
As the days get shorter and the weather gets colder (and then warm again and then back to cold...) we can all agree that layers are necessary. Let's do a quick checklist to make sure that you're ready for the next cold blast.
SHOP THE LOOK
STYLE TIPS
- BIG COZY SCARF. Doubles as a shawl and keeps your neck warm.
- LEATHER JACKET. Perfect on its own or layered under a winter coat.
- ANKLE BOOTS. Rockstar territory when bare legged but still cool when paired with skinny jeans.
- BEANIE. In Canada we call it a toque. In the US it's a beanie. Regardless this little accessory will keep your head warm when winter finally hits and you'll still look awesomesauce (is that still a thing?)
This post is sponsored by SHOPBOP.
All photos and opinions are my own.
I DESIGNED THE PERFECT V NECK T-SHIRT
For the last few years I've been on the hunt for the perfect V neck tee and I finally found it because I DESIGNED IT MYSELF!!
I knew my ideal t-shirt had to be soft and drape beautifully on a woman's body but it still had to have that cool tomboy-chic vibe with a slightly oversized silhouette. I envisioned a deep V neckline that show off a woman's décolletage but not so deep where you can see down her shirt. It's that fine line keeping the top sexy, not trashy. I wanted slightly longer sleeves so that we have more styling options; roll them up, or leave them as is.
I started this collaboration in February of this year with a Toronto based apparel company called Queen of Hearts. We worked on this project tirelessly and kept delaying the release date until I was 100% happy with everything - the cut, the fabric, the shape of the neckline.
The t-shirt I created is versatile.
It's classic.
It's contemporary.
It's effortless.
It was designed 100% by me.
It reflects my personal style perfectly and I hope you guys will love it as much as I do.
XOXO, Nathalie
