Time to take care of yourself...

Growing up I was horrible. Horrible to my skin that is. I was guilty of the following offences: not washing my face before bed, sleeping in my make-up, wearing tanning "oil" rather than sunscreen, and *GASP* frequenting tanning beds for that oh so orange glow I desired.  I've been very lucky that my skin has been so forgiving of my past skin care indescretions, and I've finally smartened up and become informed about how to treat my largest organ. I thought I'd share what I've learned over the past year about how to keep skin looking the best it can look.

First off: Just wash your face. Seriously, it can be an annoying extra step before bed, but it's super important and the first step to fighting off those dreaded wrinkles. My routine is to wash my face before bed to rid my skin of any grossness it may have encountered during the day. Because my skin is on the dry side, I only splash my face with water during my shower in the morning.

Second: Moisturize. This is what is going to give your skin the the nutrients it needs.  I moisturize in the morning and before bed. Tip: if your skin feels like you didn't moisturize right after you've already covered your skin in lotion, slather it on again. Your skin takes in all the moisture that it needs and if it still feels tight, it needs more. If you don't re-apply moisturizer, your skin will drink in the moisture from your make-up, causing it to disappear (the reason many of us experience the "where did my make-up go?" situation halfway through the day).

Third: SUNSCREEN! Yup, we all know it's important but it's hard to sacrifice the golden glow that we get when we neglect to wear it. If you NEED to look like you just came back from the Bahamas, use a sunless tanning lotion (or your skin will pay for it later). Remember, anything less the SPF 15 (or SPF 30 really) isn't doing anything to really protect your skin (sorry all you SPF 4 or 10 users). I now use mineral sunscreen which has the added benefit of not sinking into your skin (like chemical sunscreens) as well as protecting your skin for longer. It also has better UVA and UVB protection than the alternative chemical sunscreens.

And that's about it!
Now for the fun part: shopping for your skin care products. I was recently introduced to the addicting website, Paula's Choice. On it, Paula Begoun, "the cosmetics cop", reviews in her "Beautypedia" basically EVERY skincare and make-up product using research-based criteria to give you an honest perspective on what you are putting on your skin. As I write this, they are raving about Paula on CityLine...but you heard it here first!

Through the website, I have settled on the following skin-care regimen:

Cleanser: CeraVe Hydrating Cleanser (found at any pharmacy)
Day Moisturizer: Paula's Choice Skin Recovery Daily Moisturizer Lotion with SPF 30 (mineral sunscreen)
Night Moisurizer: Paula's Choice Moisture Boost Hydrating Treatment Cream
Special addition: VITAMIN C SERUM! My new favourite product, it makes my skin the brightest it's ever been. I use Paula's Resist C15 Super Booster.
(all found on www.paulaschoice.com)

So stop being lazy with your skincare...you'll be happy you did.

For more info on mineral sunscreens, visit Natural Beauty Cabinet

AMAs Fashion Round-up

Just a quick entry to celebrate the fashion and music that made up the 2013 American Music Awards last night.  As always, it was a star-studded affair; chocked full of mega star performances. In my humble opinion, Lady Gaga, TLC (yes, singing Waterfalls) and the current princess of pop controversy, MILEY CYRUS, killed it.  This proves it:

Yes the lip-synching kitten is crying diamonds. Also, Happy 21st Miley!

Best Dressed awards go to:

Taylor Swift. Taylor always looks beautiful but can fair on the "safe" side of fashion. Last night she pushed out of her safe zone just enough in this Julien Macdonald dress to get my vote for best dressed of the evening.

Ciara. Not everyone could pull off this J Mendel dress...but she does so flawlessly.

Nicole Richie. In Emilio Pucci. This fashion genius can do no wrong in my opinion. Bravo.

Needs improvement: Emma Roberts. I love her. She's brilliant in AHS Coven. But she really could have done better than this baggy, unflattering Lanvin gown.

Have a great last week of November folks!

pics via justjared and perez hilton

Love is in the Air

My facebook newsfeed this summer read as follows: X got engaged! Y got married! Z had her bachelorette in Vegas!  Every weekend there are more engagment announcements than I can count. I'm bombarded by beautiful brides in stunning dresses running through meadows with their partners and wedding parties bounding behind them. It's to be expected. We're at that age (27...for another 2 weeks) when seemingly EVERYONE is getting hitched. And I'm okay with that. As long as the party is hopping and the drinks are flowing, I can get down with the wedding trend that is sweeping through my peers.

The Wedding Party

This summer I had the honour of being a bridesmaid for the first time for one of my dearest friends, Andrea.  Quite the opposite of a bridezilla, Di Seb picked out her gown quickly,  let us choose bridesmaid dresses we would ACTUALLY wear again, and was cool, calm and collected on her special day. Not that we would have expected anything less out of the PhD Neuroscientist we call our friend and her Neurosurgeon fiance, Mike.  They couldn't go on a honeymoon directly following their wedding due to the fact that he had to preform brain surgery the following week, NBD.  This brainy twosome had one of the most beautiful, laidback and fun weddings I have ever attended and I'm so lucky to have had my first wedding party experience on their special day.

Bride and Groom's First Boogy Down

Doing what we do best.

Two weeks later, in a little chapel in Ball's Falls, ON, my childhood friend Heather married her sweetheart Steve.  The venue was the epitome of rustic chic fitting Heather's personality to a tee.  I had a great night catching up with elementary and high school friends, which reminded me why keeping in touch with those who were there since the beginning is so important.  Having reconnected this year with a few individuals I had lost touch with since leaving high school, I find that I value these friendships more than ever.

The Gorgeous Barn at Ball's Falls

 

FRANDS!

With the Beauty of the night

Barnyard Boogie Down

Congrats to both of the beautiful couples I had the privilege of celebrating with this past month and to all the marriages that came to be this wedding season.

Keep Portland Weird

Portland. PDX. The City of Roses. Beervana.Whatever you want to call it, Portland is a seemingly odd vacation destination for those who haven't watched Portlandia (if you haven't, turn on Netflix now and begin your new obsession).  When I informed people that we were traveling to Portland for the final destination of our west coast road trip, I got one question: "Why Portland?".

Made in Oregon Sign that welcomed us on a stumble home

Here's why:

1. The Weirdness: Portland is known for it's "uniqueness", so much so that their motto is "Keep Portland Weird".  Across their 2 distinct sides of the city (connected by many bridges), the resounding theme is do what you can't do anywhere else.  We visited an old public school that has been turned into 6 bars, a movie theatre, a pool, and a concert hall (Kennedy School), we played in an old school arcade bar where each game was 25 cents (Ground Kontrol),  and we "biked" around the city on a Brewcycle (aka a 15 person bike that brings people to local breweries while playing polka). The characters one runs into while walking Portland are vast as well.  Everknown as being "Hipster", this city truly lives up to this stereotype in the most genuine way.  The people here are not "trying too hard", it's just the way they are.  Everyone and their grandma has a tattoo (or twelve), vintage shops outnumber boutiques 10:1, as do bikes to cars (and they have the nicest bikelines one has ever seen). There are many other interesting characters in Portland that are a little less inviting as the homeless population there is large.  I heard many reasons for this: that it was due to a potential huge homeless shelter that fell through, and that the services that city and community provide draw them in.  Regardless of the reason, the fact remains that the city caters to its homeless population in the best way possible. Community potlucks and free drycleaning for interviews for those who are unemployed were a couple of things we came across that made my heart smile.

Mortal Kombat Champion (even though he claims to have let me win)

Brewcycle Portland with our new crew

2. Perfect Summer Weather: Portland in the summer is absolutely gorgeous. Sunny and 28C every day we were there; Portland blew us away with its dry but bearable heat.  When speaking with local Portlanders, they informed me that this was the time to visit as they have almost perfect weather during the summer months. But don't be fooled, this summer oasis turns into a rainy, cloud-ridden city for the majority of the year (particularly Oct-April). 

3.The Food: Every establishment we ate at in Portland was FABULOUS.  Foodcarts are a major part of the culinary culture in this city (not to mention an affordable and delicious option) so we made sure to make good use of these portable kitchens.  I had probably the best falafels I have ever tasted at one of these carts for about $5.  Foodcarts are all over the city in large clusters so there is a lot to choose from when visiting these cart parks.  Other honourable mentions for eats are:

Tasty'n'Alder, a untraditional brunch place where one can order Bim Bop, schniztel, or egg pudding in breakfast form.  We ordered eggs and honey biscuits, blueberry-peach french toast and egg pudding, all of which were FANTASTIC.

East Burn, here one can eat dinner on SWINGS.  Yes, you read that right, on their patio hang individual swings suspended by wooden beams.  The place had us at SWINGS, but the food was delicious as well. I had the columbia river steelhead with the edamame salad which did not disappoint.  They also have a great darts area on the patio.

Acting like school children

Voodoo Donuts, this donut shop is world famous and for good reason.  With over 50 types of donuts, picking my donut of choice was excruciating.  Luckily there were 4 of us, so we chose 6 and called it a day.  The Bacon maple bar and the "old dirty bastard" (peanut butter chocolate oreo) would have to be my faves. The line up for this place can be long, but to make up for this fact, the shop stays open 24 hours a day.  We showed up at 10pm and waited only 15 min for our delicious treats which we decided were well worth the wait. 

Too excited about donuts

4. The Beer: Beer is as much a part of the Portand culture as the bohemian vibe that resonates through the city.  With the huge amount of breweries in the area, the beer is both delicious and relatively cheap (especially at happy hour, $3 pints, yes please).  We visited many of the local breweries Portland had to offer, my favourite being Green Dragon on the east side.  They have a huge patio and about 30 beers on tap, 7 of which they brew on site.

Tasting a few at Green Dragon

 Overall, Portland has everything one needs in a summer getaway: great outdoor spaces, fantastic food, good shopping, and beer a plenty.  The weather and the culture of the city alone made it my favourite stop on the trip.  If you find yourself on the Northwest coast, please make it in to this eclectic, friendly city.  Not convinced? Watch Portlandia, you won't be able to keep yourself away.

Portland gear, which I will continue to wear in Toronto.

Big trees and GIANT trees

Before this trip, when I thought of the California Redwoods, I pictured N64 Cruisin' USA Redwoods level, driving through tree trunks while trying not to hit oncoming traffic.  After this trip, I picture a much more impressive image.  The trees in this region of the coast are GIGANTIC.  One cannot fathom how large these beauties are until one is standing amongst them.

Collin sizing up Tall Tree

Our first hike to see these trees brought us to two famous specimens, aptly named Giant Tree and Tall tree, in Humboldt Redwood State Park.  Our quest to find these trees almost made us miss our hotel check in, but they were worth it.  Being surrounded by these giants makes our forests at home look like kindling.

Our next hike was through Stout Grove in Jedediah State Park.  These trees blew "Giant" and "Tall" tree out of the water. If ever you find yourself along the Northern California Coast, PLEASE stop  and take a hike around this picturesque forest.  I could not stop snapping photos during our hour long hike.

In Jedediah State Park

Jedediah Giants

Besides looking at trees, there really isn't anything else to do in this area (other than surfing and paddle boarding in the freezing waters which I wasn't really into at the time).  It gave us some to relax and recharge in preparation for our next stop: PORTLAND, OR.

More Wine Please!

Napa, where winos' dreams come true. Our troop spent the past 2 days in Napa Valley taking in the perfect weather and enjoying copious amounts of fermented grape juice. We went to 3 different wineries during our stay, Domain Chandon for sparkling wine, Robert Mondavi Wineries for a full tour, and Hagafen Cellars for a more intimate experience at a smaller winery. 

All were absolutely gorgeous, however, the tour at Robert Mondavi would have to be my favorite. Our tour guide was super knowledgable and the vineyard was picture perfect. When in Napa, make sure to check out a few different types of wineries. Although they are have similar products, each has it's own certain something that makes it special. Another reason to check out a few different vineyards? More Wine! 

Next stop: The Redwoods!

If you're going to San Francisco...

Although we didn't wear flowers in our hair, we made the most of our time in San Francisco. Having visited the city before, I had a better idea of what to see and do. This time around I really started to know the city. We stayed in Japantown which may not be the most happening area in the city but it was so central it was a great jumping off point for all of our excursions.

View of the City from Castro

San Francisco's weather was a bit nippy during our stay, averaging around 17 C, so be warned. Our weather was a tad colder than usual, however, if you are visiting SF, bring pants, scarves, and a jacket if you plan to explore this city comfortably.

We began our trip with the quintessential landmark of the bay city, the Golden Gate Bridge. I'd visited the bridge before but never made the trip across so we decided to rent bikes for the day.  This is definitely the way to cross this beauty. Although at times I felt like I may take out a pedestrian straying into the bike lane, the ride was enjoyable and allowed for the perfect amount of time spent on the bridge. Walking seemed as though it would take an inordinate amount of time and with the wind, biking kept us warm. Fisherman's Wharf is right by the bike rentals as well. Being the most touristy pocket of the city, I couldn't stay here for long, but when one must come check it out during a trip to SF. Great sea food and kitschy surroundings round out this area of the city.

Safety first kids!

Haight-Ashbury proved to be my favourite area of the city. Cute shops, cheap eats, and a bohemian feel make this legendary hippie area super fun to explore. We stumbled upon a bar with $3 beers and Cards Against Humanity which kept us busy for quite a few hours. 

Haight-Ashbury Intersection, complete with legs

We also made the trip to see the Painted Ladies, the Victorians seen during the opening of Fullhouse.

Although not an overwhelmingly interesting sight for the boys, Michelle and I turned into our 10 year old selves, fan-girling out over the nostalgic houses. Definitely a highlight of our trip so far and recommended if the Tanners were your second family.

Everywhere you look (everywhere), there's a heart, a hand to hold on to!

Alcatraz was another essential sight this time around as we did not get the chance to experience it last time we visited. If you are wanting to go, make sure to book this at least a month in advance!This is always sold out at least 2 weeks in advance so don't be let down and scrambling a few days before! the famed previously high security prison is worth the planning. We took in the super earie sights while listening to a fascinating audio tour that kept our attention the whole 45 min. It's a weird experience wandering around a prison with hundreds of people who are completely silent learning about what went down in the rock 50+ years ago. 

The Escape Route

Although we were sad to leave this spectacular city, we were ready for the warmth and the wine that awaited us in Napa. On the road we went!