Baking the Most out of Galentine's Day with HomeSense

What do you do when it's Super Bowl Sunday and you have no intention of watching the Super Bowl? You invite you best galpal over for a pre-Valentine's Day celebration of course! This Sunday I got together with Eleni, one of my blogger besties, to have a little girl date. We put on our pink sweaters, poured some strawberry drinks, baked some cookies and then went to town decorating them. Our one stop shop for all the essentials to host a cookie decorating get-together? HomeSense of course! Want to host your own little Galentine day date/cookie decorating party with someone special? Here's how to do it:

{all accessories found at HomeSense ranging from $2.99-$24.99}

1. Baked Goods.
Sweet treats and Valentine's Day go hand in hand and there are so many ways to go about this. You can bake in advance to have everything ready to decorate or bake together. It just depends how much time you have. We opted for box mixes from HomeSense because they are super easy to prepare for when you want to focus on each other's company. You guys-- they even have gluten-free options that are the best quality. My favourite part was scoring Sweetapolita sprinkles for $4.99 when they are regular $13.00! The cutest addition to our pink sugar cookies! HomeSense is also great for other gourmet finds... I mean, macarons, gourmet chocolates and meringues for under five dollars! You can't beat it. Baking from scratch? Just pick yourself up a cookbook, pink spatula, cake stand, mixing bowls and you're set!

{cake stand - HomeSense $13.00}

{"Besties" glasses- HomeSense $9.99}

2. More decor.
Yes, this is the time to bring out all the pink, red and fabulous and once I have a theme I really run with it! Obviously, we needed to fill the day with flowers. Roses in every colour, please! We also picked up some adorable Meri-Meri party supplies from HomeSense (for a fraction of the price), and adorable pink plates to serve our goodies on.

{Sweetapolita sprinkles- HomeSense $4.99}

{greeting cards- HomeSense starting at $2.99}

3. Make it special.
My favourite part of Valentine's Day growing up was writing out and handing all my Valentine cards! I just loved going to school (in my pink and red best) and slipping the cards into everyone's handcrafted boxes! I still love writing out cards today. There is just something so special about it. That's why I was SO excited when HomeSense started carrying greeting cards! They are actually so fun and beautifully crafted-- think glitter, catchy sayings and pop up details! And the best part? They start at $2.99! So much cheaper than the regular card stores... Make it special by writing up a card for your pal! Such a sweet touch that they can take home. Fun fact-- Eleni and I got each other the same card! Haha.. great minds, right?!

4. Dress the part.
Pink, pink and more pink please! A true Galentine's Day would not be complete without an extra dose of pink. Obviously, Eleni and I were wearing matching pink sweaters (total coincidence), and then when we scored these adorable pink and white stripe aprons at HomeSense, we were basically twins! I'm serious when I say one-stop-shop! They were $12.00 each which was the icing on the cake! We weren't the only ones who dressed the part. So did the table! An adorable Nicole Miller table runner, and washcloths to soak up all our floury mess!

5. Extra extra!
It's Galentine's Day... the more all out you go, the better! Turn up the music nice and loud, pour yourselves a glass of bubbly (in a cute glass, obvi), and have fun! Doesn't this sound so much better than watching the game on a Sunday? My thoughts exactly!

Thank you guys so much for reading! I hope you get some great ideas for Valentine's Day next week. Whatever your plans may be! Just enjoy the day, and don't forget to celebrate the love you have for yourself first! Make sure you head on over to Eleni's blog, Bijuleni,  to check out more ways to save and indulge this Valentine's Day!

Although this post was sponsored by HomeSense, all opinions are 100% my own. I genuinely love working with HomeSense and sharing my finds with you because I am a regular there! 

All photos by: Krenare Ali 

How to Wear Colour and Patterns in Winter

The temperature warms up 5 degrees and I'm all like "put away the parka, get out the spring coats"! Well, this weekend was so not the weekend to be testing out that idea! It's still ridiculously cold and I think the red nose and abundance of cold weather accessories proves that point. In all honesty, I am sick of the winter coats and black on black ensembles! I am constantly looking for ways to inject some colour and fun patterns into my outfits, and pink sweaters and leopard print always seems like an appropriate choice. Do you play with colour in the winter, or are you all about whatever is warmest? This year I realized I have an obscene amount of pink sweaters and they are getting all the wear! The colour makes me most happiest so why not wear it as much as I can! This pink sweater (which you can barely see due to the massive faux moment- haha) I scored at Loft and it's the coziest thing, but can totally be dressed up with a pair of booties and overcoat. I've been loving pairing pink on pink (just look at my Instagram) to break out of the wardrobe rut, but also love pairing it with prints, even in winter. It's fun and can be a real mood changer!

If you're wondering how to break out of the wardrobe rut this winter, try these ideas!

1. Layer. Wear your colourful pieces underneath, or on top. Black work blazer? Pair it with a colourful blouse which will peak out just enough to let the colours shine through. Same goes for coloured tights. I often pair turtlenecks with seasonal pieces to switch up the look and make it cold weather friendly. Pair a black turtleneck with a more seasonal dress, or favourite blouse. Alternatively, you can sport a bright turtleneck underneath of another top or sweater. I love how the neck pops out just enough to get a peek!

2. Accessorize. So your parka is black and that can't be swapped as easily as you'd like. But what about your accessories? Gloves, hats, mitts, bags... they are so many colourful options! Don't be afraid to accessorize with some colour instead of the go-to black and grey. I realize I type this and I'm wearing grey earmuffs and a black scarf in these pictures (lol), but that's because I'm pairing it with a pink sweater! I think the mix of tones compliments one another during winter. Faux fur is another great option. Try something as bold as a coloured neck piece, or as small as a bag key chain.

3. Colour Block. So you have a few bright or pattern pieces? Wear them all together and call it a day.  Different colour combinations are so fun to break into to. Just try it out! Pair with some classic booties and you're ready for the weather.

How will you switch up your wardrobe this winter?

S H O P  T H E  P O S T :

Pink Christmas

I'm pinking it's going to be a good Holiday! Wednesday was my last day at the office for 2017 and I am SO excited to relax at home, have some quality family time and enjoy some slow living moments. Since we are semi preparing for a snowstorm I've gone into full-blown homebody mode. I've made a HUGE batch of Oh She Glows granola (that I can't stop snacking on!), just did a full body dry brush and am ready to cozy up by the TV to continue wrapping presents.  If you're wondering what I mean by dry brush, you need to check out the latest edition of the P&P newsletter. Just click here to subscribe. It's all my tips, tricks and weekly news, and this week I'm sharing how to get the softest skin ever. Not to mention a bomb recipe for the easiest peanut butter oat bites ever.

Flowering in Fuchsia

I wanted nothing more than to frolic around in the most summery outfits I could put together this Labour Day long weekend, however, the weather was not on my side! Friday night we headed out for date night... and it sure had been a while with all the craziness that has been going on lately. We chose a local sushi restaurant and indulged in some sake to toast for the long weekend. I pretty much said "f the weather" and went with my initial decision to sport all the summery; a white, fuchsia and purple crop top, a fuchsia satin midi and what could possibly be my most favourite shoes right now, these B Brian Atwood block heels (on sale!). They are beyond comfortable, and the colours are big, bold and beautiful.  

Blush Jumpsuit

What to wear to a fancy affair when you feel uncomfortable in everything you own? This was the dilemma I faced last weekend. I knew I had a wedding to attend but I had been putting off trying on outfits for a while because I knew quite a few of my pieces would just not fit anymore. Even though this was a good thing for me, it's never an easy pill to swallow when you come to the realization that some of your favourite pieces will never fit again. I wanted to wear something I felt good in, that was easy and didn't leave me feeling restricted. Enter the most comfortable piece of clothing I now own-- this blush pink jumpsuit. The satin like material is extremely soft and flexible, and I literally feel like I'm wearing pyjamas. 

I'm not going to lie, at first, I felt a little funny wearing a pant suit to a wedding. I've always been a dress kind of girl! But it was probably the best decision ever! I felt free, flowy and a touch sexy. The suit is sophisticated, kinda risque, and need I say more about the colour? It felt great to feel great in what I was wearing, and I hadn't felt like that in a few weeks! I amped up the tone of the outfit with bold black accessories to make it evening appropriate. You can never go wrong with a vintage Chanel and drop earrings! 

Sometimes moving away from our signature piece can be a great thing. It allows us to become comfortable in trying new things and leaves the door open for more possibilities. What do you think? Are you one to stray away from your go-tos? I've also linked some fabulous blush pink jumpsuits for your viewing pleasure. Because I already need another! 

W H A T  I ' M  W E A R I N G :

Just Playing Jumpsuit via Langsura,  Zara sandals, vintage Chanel bag, earrings 

S H O P T H E P O S T :

Auguste The Girl

It officially feels like summertime in the city... for me at least. Over the past few months, I sort of took a step back from the blogging world (more on that later) to recharge and focus on wellness. This is probably the biggest break I have ever taken from my blog, which was terrifying in itself. So many scary thoughts come into your head-- Will everyone forget about me? Will they even notice I'm "gone"?  While there definitely was angst and uncertainty I knew it had to be done.  But what was even scarier is coming back and trying to pick up where I left off. 

So here we are! The return of the OOTD. I can't deny-- it felt so good to get back to pictures, editing, writing and such. It's such a passion of mine and honestly, I feel so much closer to my blog now that I took the time to reframe my state of mine. One thing I knew that would make me feel comfortable getting back into my groove is all the pink and floral things! Speaking of groove, how groovy is this dress?! I think it may actually be a top, but since the back is longer than the front I'm not hesitating to wear it as a dress. I scored it at Winners. Yes for the #WinnersFabFind!! I seriously love when this happens. Especially since I've been eyeing so much gorgeous Auguste The Label dresses on Revolve for quite some time. The colour, the sleeves and the print. It's perfect to throw over a swimsuit for a day at the beach, paired with a pair of high-heeled sandals for a night on the town, or with tie up flats for Sunday brunch that, in this case, consisted of too many cups of coffee, mimosas, and a mean avocado toast from The Smith. 

W H A T  I ' M  W E A R I N G:

Auguste The Label shift dress (via Winners),  Topshop lace up flats (similar),  Rebecca Minkoff bucket bag (similar)

S H O P  T H E  P O S T :

Trans-Seasonal Pink Cape

When the temperatures travel from 5 to 17 degrees in one day. Chilly mornings... warm afternoons... what's a girl to wear!? We all need to rely on those transitional pieces to take us through the day during this confusing season. This vibrant cape has become my go-to. It's a colour blocking babe of a piece that I can tone down or add some flare too. A true trans-seasonal piece. Add some more bulk underneath in the winter, or throw on top of a slip in the summer. Knits are essential. Did I mention it's on sale?!

How else can you pair it?
Dress and sneakers, metallics and jeans, or throw it over some real statement sleeves.  Whatever you do, just have fun with it.


W H A T  I ' M  W E A R I N G : Le Specs Sunglasses, Splitshade Kimono (via Anthropologie on sale), American Eagle Denim, Topshop flats (similar), Sophie Hulme Tote

S H O P  T H E  P O S T :

Sophisicated Pink Lace and Trousers

What's your favourite colour to wear? It's no secret I am more than partial to blush pink and this outfit does a fine job to emphasising that. Last weekend when we had a stint of warm weather I couldn't help but get dressed up for just a casual date night. We just went to a local Italian eatery but forgoing the boots and a large coat felt so nice for a change! I am so over the cold, wet weather we've been having since, and I can't wait to get back into these trousers. They're from RW & CO and are so comfortable! I love that they can transition me from the office to the weekend. I have never been one to get the same item in a different colour, but I had to get a black pair, too! Both pairs of pants have turned into spring staple pieces and I have not looked back on my decision. When you find something that works you just need to go with it, right? In the accessory department, my vintage Chanel seemed like the only bag that would do for this level of sophisticated dressing. 

W H A T  I ' M  W E A R I N G : Forever 21 top  (similar, similar, similar), RW&CO trousers (similar), vintage Chanel bag, Nine West pumps 

S H O P  T H E  P O S  T :