#motherhood inspired
I’m experiencing a bit of a love affair with my adopted province of Alberta this summer. I’m not sure if it is because I’ve taken a bigger interest in photography but the beauty of mother nature is almost overwhelming this year! The Canola Fields are a sight to see if you are traveling to Alberta during the summer months. Take a weekend to explore the countryside and read about the style that goes along with it…
As the frugal fashionista that I am, finding great deals is definitely my thing. I get so many outfit questions and most people are surprised to learn where I shop the most: not the expensive brand name stores that you’d expect from a fashion blogger but the well-priced stores that offer good quality at good prices. It’s all about how out take a simple dress, customize it and make it your own. Add a little glam to your style, even on a budget! Here’s how to take an $8 dress and make it look like an $80 dress…
I started this blog about a year and a half ago because I wanted to inspire other stay-at-home moms to not give in to the “mom-rut”. As moms, we are unanimously tired. There’s barely enough time to drink a cup of coffee and scarf down a piece of toast in the mornings, let alone time to shower, get dressed, do your hair and put on make-up. Well, I’m here to tell you, MAKE TIME. And this is why….
I’m back home and refreshed from a five-day vacation to Scottsdale, Arizona, sans children! It was the perfect getaway for any mother who needs a break: sun and shopping. Like many Canadians, I get giddy with the prospect of getting to wander through the aisles of an American Target store. From clothes to home decor to wine, Target is this mom’s dream.
And why shouldn’t it be when you can find an adorable and trendy outfit for a total of $38? Today, I’m sharing one of my new favorite trends: the off the shoulder dress.
It’s a new summer season, and time for a new pineapple shirt. I am a sucker for flamingos and pineapples so its hard to resist the shopping temptation when I come across one or the other. Ask my neighbour, I just put those plastic flamingos in my garden. They aren’t tacky right?
“Be bold, be bold, and everywhere be bold.” -Herbert Spencer
I used to be a little bit of a lipstick snob. I love bold colours but I would only buy the expensive department store brands because the colours were always so rich looking. But, I have to say that in the past year, “drug store” make-up lines like Maybelline, Revlon, Rimmel, Covergirl and L’Oreal have really stepped up and made some beautiful, affordable colours that look anything but cheap.
The number one question that I get asked on Instagram, is “What lip colour are you wearing?”. So I figured it was time to round up my favourites and share them with you.
(Nails: Jamberry gel in Flamingo with Love Letter and Pop of Hearts wraps / Watch: Wristology Rachel: 20% off with coupon code Kristin20)
First, some tips on wearing a bold lip colour:
1. You need lip liner to make that perfect, pouty lip. The great thing about lip liner is that you if you buy a couple different ones (one red, one pink, one berry) then you can match them to those colour spectrums. They don’t need to be exact!
2. Choose matte! If you want colour that pops and lasts, then choose one from a matte collection. It’s easy to layer on gloss overtop if you want that wet look.
3. Own it!!! So many people tell me that they purchased a lip colour that looked great in the store but then they got it home and thought it looked terrible on them. A little secret: it doesn’t!!! You have to have the confidence to wear it! Try this: Wear the new colour for ONE day. Choose a weekend when you are staying home or doing errands. If you aren’t used to wearing lipstick then it can be a big change. Get used to looking in the mirror with it on. By the end of the day, then decide whether it can stay or go.
To help you grab some great shades, I’ve made a handy list for you:
Maybelline ColorBlur
My new favourite!!! The ColorBlur allows you to add a lot or a little colour with the use of it’s blending tip. The colours are vibrant and bold. Shades to try: Partner in Crimson (red), Fast and Fuchsia (pink, worn in photo), Plum Please (berry, worn in photo above). Although they have so many fabulous colours, you can’t really go wrong here.
Revlon Color Burst
Love these matte colours from Revlon. They have a hint of vanilla/mint scent and they are so easy to apply. Shades to try: Elusive (pink), (poppy red, worn in photo), Fiery (new, plum).
Hard Candy All Matted Up
A new line from Hard Candy. This red and pink matte colour is beautiful! Unfortunately, this is the only good colour that they offer in the line but it’s a great price and worth buying.
There’s no better time of year than summer to try a new lip colour!
Kiss,
Kiki
ITALY IN 10 DAYSMy short and sweet travel guide on how to see the best sights of Italy in 10 days.
I am a mother with 2 young kids so my husband and I rarely get to take a trip together. We love traveling but getting away for an extended length of time can be really tough. We’ve always wanted to see Italy so for our 5 year wedding anniversary, we decided to do it. I must admit, I am a crazy planner when it comes to traveling somewhere. I have a phobia of showing up to a new place and missing out on something because I failed to know about it. So for Italy, I spent hours in front of the computer researching Trip Advisor and flipping through my Fodors guide book trying to plan the best trip in a short amount of time. With so many places to go and things to see, Italy can be a bucket list trip.
Here is our 10 day Italian itinerary with overnight stops in Venice, Florence, Cinque Terre, Siena and Rome with a pit-stop in Pisa. Don’t forget about other cities like Milan, Naples and the Amalfi Coast. It’s just so hard to choose!
A few tips:
*On a short time frame, stay in the heart of the cities. Don’t waste time commuting in everyday to see the major attractions.
*Get good maps and ask for directions! Especially if you are driving.
*Fly to Venice and work your way down or to Rome and work your way up.
*On the first Sunday of every month, Italy offers free admission to all museums.
*If you can purchase your admissions tickets ahead of time it may save you a lot of waiting!
Venice is my absolute favourite city in Italy. We started our journey here and I don’t think you could pick a more unique and romantic place to stay. You will love getting lost in a maze of walkways and bridges as every time you turn a corner, you are greeted with a new sight.
Must-see:
*Basilica di San Marco
*a Gondola Ride
*Rialto Bridge
*Strolling through the neighbourhoods of San Marco and Dosoduro
Must-eat:
*Pizza lunch at Antico Forno
Florence is easily the cultural centre of art history in Italy. Get here in a couple hours by taking a high speed train from Venice to Florence. The city is easily accessible by walking or biking and it’s easy to cover a lot of ground in one day. The Duomo is the heart of the city and an absolutely magnificent sight. Climb the windy stone staircase to the top if you aren’t too claustrophobic!
Must-see:
*The Duomo
*Galleria dell’Accademia (home of Michelangelo’s David)
*Ponte Vecchio
*Piazza della Signoria
*Piazzale Michelangelo
Must-Eat:
*Gelato at Grom
Must-Stay:
My husband and I decided to rent a car for 4 days to visit the Italian Riveria towns of Cinque Terre and then the Chianti Wine region town called Siena. Rental cars can easily be reserved ahead online. Although driving can be confusing, if you get a good map and directions ahead of time, this is a wonderful way to explore Italy.
You cannot beat the culture and beauty of Cinque Terre. I could have stayed much longer exploring these 5 coastal villages. Monterosso Al Mare is the larger town and offers more in the way of dining and lodging but all towns are worth thoroughly exploring.
For all the information you need on Cinque Terre, please visit my previous detailed blog post here.
Must-stay:
Pisa can be a pit-stop. We stopped here while driving from Cinque Terre to Siena. We found free street parking and spent an hour touring around the grassy piazza of the Leaning Tour of Pisa. It is a beautiful plaza that is worth a stop.
The Tuscany wine region is most easily accessible by car. I would highly recommend seeing this region by this mode of transportation as it is wonderful to have a bit of open freedom after touring some of the larger cities. Siena is a beautiful walled medieval city with fantastic surrounding views. If you don’t want to stay in town, I would suggest booking a villa in the countryside. If you’re looking for a different option than Siena, try the town of San Gimignano.
After spending our first day walking and sight seeing in Siena, we spent our second day touring around the Tuscan Chianti region in our rental car. This was the perfect way to relax and go at our own pace. Take your time lunching and wine tasting along your drive between Castellina , Radda and Gaiole in Chianti.
Must-See:
*Piazza Del Campo
*Duomo and Cripta
*Castello di Brolio (castle tour and wine tasting)
Must-Eat:
*La Prosciuterria – the most delicious meat and cheese boards from local produce.
*Ice Cream in the town of Castellina in Chianti
Must-Stay:
*Hotel Athena (the above photo of the countryside is the view from our room and they include parking!)
Rome may be a little overwhelming after 8 full days of traveling. There is enough to do and see to fill your days here. The long lines and flocks of tourists may seem daunting but everything you see will be worth it, especially St. Peter’s Basilica.
After returning our car to Florence we took another high-speed train to Rome. Rome is one of the only Italian cities that has a subway system so use it when your legs need a rest. It also can connect you to the airport which is super convenient. There are “hop-on hop-off” bus tours too that take you to all the main attractions. This is a good option when traveling in those hot summer months.
Must-see:
*St. Peter’s Basilica
*The Vatican Museums including the Sistine Chapel
*Trevi Fountain
*Colosseum
*Pantheon
Must-Eat:
*Trattoria il Tettarello (we ate here both nights we loved it so much, best pizza ever!)
Whether you are blessed with more time in Italy or less, choose an itinerary that suits your needs. We definitely tried to cram as much as we could into our ten days but I didn’t want to miss any of the spectacular sights in these six cities (see, it’s my phobia!). It’s true I felt pretty exhausted on our journey home but my soul felt full.
Amore,
Kiki