OVERSIZED BOMBERS & BODY ISSUES
I've been working from home since March now and as a result, I've gained weight and gone up a pant size. Okay, it's actually two.
Sitting at my desk for the better part of my day means I'm almost totally immobile. My bursts of movement come from running up and down the stairs or sprinting to the front door when UPS or FedEx ring the doorbell. Additionally, indulging in cupcakes, decadent meals and being too busy to cook have finally stacked up against me. It's inevitable right? Obviously I'm not proud of how I ended up with a rounder mid-section but it's important for me to share my story with you guys.
Last summer I was my strongest, happiest and most confident self. I was going to bootcamp 4-5 times a week and eating very healthy and clean. Sure my body didn't exactly resemble Gigi's, but I felt good about myself. Fast forward to now and my waistband is quickly expanding. Going up 2 pant sizes in two months is messed up and I need to take control before I get sick.
If you guys have any workout tips for me or any easy vegetarian recipes, let me know! I would love to hear what works for you and adapt it to my routine as I transition back to being healthy.
Happy Friday all and thanks for reading!
xo, Nathalie
Thank goodness for the magic of photography! Geoff's been shooting me in flattering angles for the last while. Hopefully you guys haven't noticed a difference.
BABY BLUE JEANS
I blame Pinterest for refueling my love of blue jeans.
It happened subconsciously where I found myself pinning picture after picture of women in jeans instead of the usual monochrome look. Honestly, I'm SOOOOO over the B&W Instagram accounts. I just can't. Blue jeans just feel right for spring. Plus they're so reliable and classic. We'll never get bored of seeing jeans and we'll always find new ways to wear them. Take Maja Wyh for example - she wears denim like no one else. I'm always amazed that she can make skinnies look so good with her oversized tops and feminine heels. Sarah Harris is another one- she wears jeans like they were made for her. I envy the connection her body seems to have with her jeans. Own it like you mean it!
I'm tempted to put away my black jeans all together but let's face it, that's NEVER going to happen. Instead, prepare to see me wearing lots of blue jeans this spring/summer.
xo, Nathalie
*Special thanks to Cartel Footwear for hooking me up with these awesome boots that go so well with my blue jeans.
HOW TO SURPRISE YOUR MUM ON MOTHER'S DAY
Do you know what you're getting your mum for Mother's Day? No?
That's alright because I've got you covered. I've put together a list of 5 ideas for your mum this Sunday.
5. BRUNCH
Hipsters, Instagram and, my mum. They all love a good brunch so I'm telling you to take your mum out for brunch! I went with the tea party theme and served up finger sandwiches, macarons and tarts from Butter Avenue. She enjoyed it but so did I because everyone benefits from brunch! #yum
4. THE TIMEPIECE
I have the fondest memories of my parents gifting my watches when I was younger so I thought I would do the same for my mama this year. This Swatch is fun and summery and seems to fit the theme of our tea party pretty well.
3. THE GIFT OF SCENT
What person doesn't love a good perfume? I gifted her Chloe because it reminds me of spring. It's light, airy, feminine and chic.
2. THE BAG
The lovely folks at Coach monogrammed this pink saddle bag with her initials on the front flap and discretely added my initials to the side tag so she's always reminded of me when she wears it. (Sappy I know!) We tied this cute scarf around the handle to personalize it further.
1. THE SURPRISE FACTOR
Surprise parties and get togethers are my thing these days so I surprised my mum with this adorable tea party! When she saw the spread she was over the moon which totally made my day.
Special thanks to Coach, Swatch and Chloe for helping this Mother's Day gift guide come together. All opinions and photos are my own.
BUTTERFLIES IN MY TUMMY
TIP: DIY your own distressed denim by cutting uneven "rips" on the knees. I picked these ones up on super sale for $28 at Banana Republic so I didn't mind cutting them. I also cropped them by cutting 3" off the hem and leaving them undone so they get more frayed with wear.
I legit had butterflies in my tummy when these Isabel Marant Jaeryn sandals reappeared in my size on SSENSE. You know when you want something so bad and it sells out and you're like "FML why did I wait so long?". Well I've been waiting a year to get my hands on these but they always sell out. Needless to say I was over the moon to finally grab a pair. Shopaholics rejoice!
xo, Nathalie
SHOP MY SHIRT
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HOW TO WEAR BLACK LIPSTICK (AND STILL LOOK CHIC)
What’s the first thing that comes to mind when you think black lipstick? Goth? Ya, me too.
In 1995 I was was rebelling against the world (or so I thought) and I made my biggest fashion statement yet by dying my hair black, shaving half my head into an undercut and wearing black lipstick, red eye liner and black nails. I was an angsty kid with a chip on my shoulder and I don’t even know why because in reality, life was good and I had the happiest childhood growing up. Let’s just sum it up to hormones.
The funny thing is, it wasn't even cool to be goth when I was young, and I certainly didn’t do it in hopes of becoming Miss Popularity. I just wanted to stand out and be original because I was sick of suburban life.
All of this has got me thinking about what it means to wear black, blue or whatever lipstick as a 30-something-year-old and still look respectable and polished. Can it be done? I’d like to think so but there’s certainly a time and a place. For example, you’re not going to show up at the office with black lips, but all signs point to yes for a night out with the girls. Here’s my checklist on how to wear black lipstick while still looking glam and age appropriate.
- BE FLAWLESS - Hydrate and prep your skin for flawless makeup. Conceal any imperfections and use bronzer and a pinky toned blush to warm up your skin. After all, you don’t want to look like The Walking Dead right?
- GET YOUR HAIR DID - Just as your makeup should be flawless, your hair should be too. Smooth away any fly aways with styling creme or go get a blow out.
- KEEP IT SIMPLE - Your lips will be the main focus so make sure the rest of your makeup is clean and simple. I opted for two coats of volume building mascara and skipped out on the eye liner.
- APPLICATION IS KEY - Apply that lipstick perfectly for a polished look. Use a lipliner and keep inside the lines. Erase any mistakes using a small brush and concealer.
- SMILE - Remember, you want to look polished, glamorous and sophisticated so don’t forget to smile!
So, is it socially acceptable to wear black lipstick in 2016? The answer is yes but expect looks along the way.
FESTIVAL READY OUTFITS & WHAT TO PACK
The end of Coachella means the beginning of festival season! Personally, I've never been, but I did go to Bestival and WayHome last year so I'd like to think I know what I'm talking about when I say "this is what you should pack and this is what you should wear." Makes sense right?
Festivals are all about fun and letting free but I can't help myself and I have to prepare for the day ahead. Packing some hand sani, an iPhone battery charger and some extra tissue (in case you're left in a no TP scenario), never hurts. Same goes for comfy clothes and cute and sensible shoes.
If you've ever wanted to step outside of your comfort zone but have never had the guts, now's the time. No one will judge because it's a festival and no one gives a fudge! Have fun with your outfit and go for it. These awesome Hunter wellies are a good way to add colour and will keep your feet safe from mud (trust me, mud happens!). Just make sure to show lots of leg in a cute mini or some short shorts like Kate Moss. ;) Pair the boots with a fringe tank and a cute bandana and you're almost ready!
Hunter backpack from SS16 jam packed with my festival essentials including aloe coconut water from Thirsty Buddha and coconut chips. I'm obsessed!
Keep the designer bag at home because you don't want to ruin it on the field. Instead store your necessities in a backpack. Last year I packed snacks like fruits, nuts, and vegan protein bars, basically anything didn't require refrigeration. Right now I'm obsessed with coconut chips from Montreal based Thirsty Buddha, so I'll probably pack a few of those too. No word of a lie, I stalked my local health food store for weeks until those coco chips were restocked! #addicted
Finally, use protection! Sunscreen, sunnies, a hat and even after sun are a must. Resembling a lobster post festival is not hot. Also, have fun with some different lipstick shades while you're at it. Black Truffle (black violet) and Spritzer (lilac) from Bite Beauty are really awesome lip colours that are super moisturizing but aren't exactly everyday appropriate in your 30s'. Now's the time to rock them!
So there you have my festival must haves/ survival guide. What are your tips?
xo, Nathalie
OBSESSED: BOMBER JACKETS
Clearly there's two things I'm crazy about right now: 1) my mini Dionysus 2) Zara bomber jackets. Anytime I order anything from Zara I end up returning 99% of it because what I get in person isn't the same as what I see online (aka. shit quality), but this season I feel like they're killing it.
Jackets are a cheap way to change up a whole look especially when they're priced well. The one I'm wearing here is on the expensive side for Zara, but I don't mind since the embroidery detail in the back is amazing and it's reversible. It sure helps that it looks go with my bag right? ;)
xo, Nathalie
Gold iPhone 6+ case: FACE by Phantom Glass.
REVIEW: BURT'S BEES LIPSTICK & BB CREAM
When the latest from Burt's Bees hit my desk I was excited to start swatching right away! The new lipsticks come in 14 shades like Suede Splash (a flattering brown-rose), Sunset Cruise (pinky-coral) and Scarlet Soaked (luscious orange-red) and my fave Russet River (a red based brown that's easy to wear yet dramatic). The formula is 100% natural, highly moisturizing and feel as comfortable to wear as lip balm. With a satin finish, they are slightly sheer which is perfect for hot summer days. For a bolder look just add lip liner underneath!
NUDES - Nile Nude 500 (cool based nude), Blush Basin 501 (neutral pink nude), Suede Splash 502 (warm nude)
PLUMS / BROWNS - Lily Lake 530 (cool mauve rose), Juniper Water 531 (classic plum), Russet River 532 (warm red based brown)
REDS - Scarlet Soaked 520 (warm orange red), Ruby Ripple 521 (cool red), Sunset Cruise 523 (neutral pinky coral)
PURPLES - Brimming Berry 514 (classic berry), Tulip Tide 515 (cool lilac)
PINKS: Iced Iris 510 (bubblegum pink), Magenta Rush 511 (classic magenta), Fuchsia Flood 512 (cool pink)
WEARING BURT'S BEES LIPSTICKS IN: Russet River, Scarlet Soaked, Magenta Rush, Brimming Berry and Suede Splash with Lisbeth necklace and James Perse t-shirt.
BB CREAM WITH SPF 15 - Medium, Light - Medium, Light
In addition to the new lippies, Burt's Bees has also launched their BB Cream with SPF 15. If you're like me, you would have already swapped out your foundation for a lighter wearing tinted moisturizer with sun protection. I prefer using sheer makeup in the hotter months because it looks more natural in the sun. Plus - who wants cake face in 30-degree weather? This BB Cream goes on easy with your fingers (no beautyblender required!) and looks dewy and natural on the skin which I love! It comes in 3 shades, Light, Light-Medium and Medium. Right now I'm using Light-Medium but I'll probably switch to Medium in the summer for a bronzed look.
This post is sponsored by Burt's Bees. All opinions and photographs are my own.
REVIEW: REVLON’S ULTIMATE ALL-IN-ONE MASCARA
Who else has more than one mascara currently in their makeup bag? I know I do and, in fact, I have 5 tubes on the go right now because they all serve a different, yet necessary function. I have the thickening one, lengthening, curling, waterproof and the “natural” one, which of course, I barely use. Oh, did I mention the mascara primer? So all in all I have 6 tubes of mascara in my makeup bag ready to #werk.
I’ve been hearing a lot about Revlon on YouTube these days and naturally I was excited to put their new Ultimate All-in-One Mascara to the test. It comes in 3 everyday wearable colours - Black, Blackest Black and Blackened Brown. I got mine in blackest black, which is perfect because I have dark hair and olive skin so I find it’s the most flattering shade for my lashes.
As with every makeup I try, I first wore my new Ultimate All-In-One Mascara around the house as phase one of my rigorous makeup testing. My lashes stayed plump up until the end of the night and I had no smudging. So far so good!
Phase two was to test it out as I ran about my daily errands for the next couple of days. Again, my lashes stayed plump and smudge-free till night time.
Overview of Revlon’s new Ultimate All-In-One Mascara.
PROS
- Buildable. The first coat lengthens and separates your lashes. The second coat thickens and curls them to juicy long lashes.
- The uniquely shaped oval brush, called the Revlon Power Mini Brush, looks intimidating at first glance, but is actually very easy to use. It’s also perfect for getting even the tiniest lashes, like the ones in the corner of your eye.
- Intense colour pay off. Since I have dark eyes and dark hair, I prefer the deepest, darkest black from my mascara to help my eyes pop more. Revlon’s Blackest Black Ultimate All-In-One Mascara passes my colour test. ;)
- Smudge-proof.
- Easy to wash off.
CONS
- Prone to flaking if you touch your lashes.
The left eye features 3 coats of Revlon’s New All-In-One Mascara on the upper lashes and one coat on the lower. The right eye features no mascara.
*Revlon’s All-In-One was the only eyelash product used for this picture.
Overall, I think Revlon’s new Ultimate All-In-One Mascara is a great all-in-one that delivers on its promise. While wearing it, my lashes looked long and thick and my eyes really stood out. It can certainly replace all 6 mascaras currently in my beauty bag but honestly, that’s a big commitment and I like variety. I can say that it has a new place in my beauty bag and I’ll be reaching for it in the near future.
This post is sponsored by Revlon. All opinions and pictures are my own.