STE. ANNE'S SPA

My birthday is coming up, and I wanted to go somewhere fun and relaxing and not too far away, so  I decided to see if Ste  Annes had anything...sadly they were completely booked up :(
This place located in Grafton Ontario is repeatingly named Canada's best spa. It is on acres of land and everything about it is wonderful! The food is incredible and everything you do from morning until night is done in a robe-people also eat dinner in them. The rooms are all little cottages and all of the spa services are great.

See below for the Doll's House-a tiny wonderful cottage. The original turret in the Doll's House was built as a play house for the Blaffer grandchildren. In the 90's an addition was built to make a home for the Innkeeper, but it was so popular, that it eventually was given up for guests. It is located on the east side of the original building, about 15 meters from the dining room patio. With windows facing south, the Doll's House overlooks the expansive southern lawn. This historic building features an original, fieldstone fireplace (converted to gas), two ample sitting areas, loft-style accommodation overlooking the main living room and full kitchen. The Hobbit is located in the lower level of The Doll's House accommodation. It is a cozy second bedroom, with an ensuite bathroom so that you can have more friends join you.

 Outside view in the summer, features an outdoor hot tub, outdoor pool with views of rolling grass, walking trails, tennis court, etc..

  Outside view in the winter. Snow shoeing, trails, warm fires, and of course, lots of spa treatments!

Good-bye Nail Polish?

    So I picked up a copy of Nail Pro Magazine which is a professional nail and esthetic magazine recently and couldn't help but notice that EVERY single advertisement was of a different gel lacquer product! Everywhere you go, the talk of the town is gel polish (More so "Shellac" by CND. Shellac is actually the "Kleenex" brand of facial tissues.). There are even brands out there that allow consumers to do gel polish with a U.V. lamp right from their home so that a trip to the spa or nail salon isn't necessary. Does this also mean the day of nail lacquers and polish bottles has come to end?

   You paint your nails or head to the spa for a manicure for that special event or just to jazz up your outfit and by the end of that day or even the very next day, it chips. You were so careful trying not to ruin your nails after that spa visit only to think they were dry enough to dig into your bag for those keys. The beauty of gel polishes is there is no dry time and it can easily last 2 weeks or even longer. CND's Shellac is probably the most well-known and popular but what about your regular polishes?

  Nail polish companies such as CND, OPI, SpaRitual, Zoya, Orly all carry gel polishes however, they haven't discontinued or stop promoting their regular polish lines. These big brand names are still releasing beautiful seasonal collections based on current trends. This just means that there are still consumers out there that love the simplicity of applying regular nail polish. There is a wider range of colours to be chosen and there isn't a 2 week commitment to having that same colour on your nails.

  In my opinion, I love gel polishes especially Shellac which I must mention has some really great additions to their colour roster. I love the fact that I don't have to dedicate so much time out of my day to make sure my nails are well manicured without any chips. As for regular polishes? Still a fan especially for special occasions where I only want a specific colour for the night.


   

Fairmont Willow Stream Spa

Willowstream in Mayakoba was my most recent winter getaway! The spa was one of the best features in the resort. It was on two levels and included several relaxation lounges, a hot tub steam room, salt water pools, and a mineral bath.  All the rooms were super private and the staff was excellent.

The resort itself was massive and had golf carts to take you around the resort.  It was surrounded by a golf course, lush trees, and a forest.  The golf is supposed to be great-ocean views and wonderful weather. We were fortunate to stay in one of the huts which was very private and luxiourious.  The food was also excellent (a couple of them had AAA Four Diamond Awards) For those of you who like eating healthy on vacation..they also offered healthy menus for anyone that is interested at all of their restaurants. This is not all inclusive however was worth spending the extra money. 

Hint of Tint!

First, let me start by saying the weather here in the Greater Toronto Area has been AMAZING this week. Plus temperatures, sun shining, stowing away the winter attire and dark colours means it'spring and summer are just around the corner.

My skin tends to get super dehydrated in the winter and with the transitioning weather from cold to warm, my skin has been in need of some tender love and care. I've never been a fan of thick or heavy foundations so trying to brighten up my extremely olive skin tone can be quite the challenge.

So in efforts to try and freshen up my skin tone especially now that our days are getting brighter, I found the perfect solution! By mixing a little bit our your foundation in with your moisturizer/ day cream in the morning, not only does it provide you with moisture and protection, it also evens out your skin tone without the heavy feeling a foundation on its own would do. After I cleanse my skin in the morning, I take about a dime size of my moisturizer Eminence Organiqs "Eight Greens Whip Moisturizer"into my hand. Then, I mix in about a pea size of my foundation Benefit Cosmetics "Hello Flawless!" Oxygen Wow Liquid Foundation. It feels weightless and gives me such amazing coverage.

A Great Makeover Experience!

One of my favorite things that I like to do before I go out is get my make-up done. I wanted to try something new so I decided to venture to Holt Renfrew's flagship store on Bloor Street and book a Shu Uemura make-over.  I didn't realize they were having an event, so it was a little too busy for my liking.

I got to try out their whole line, and discovered they have much more than their famous Toyko eyelashes.

 

A Great Night Mask-Part of the "Depsea Hydrability" collection, is a great mask that you put on for 20 minutes which feels like a silky coccoon on your face. My skin felt softer and cleaner within minutes.

Tokyo Lash Bar- Of course I had to get my lashes done! They have dozens of different shapes and colors of lashes but I decided to go with the natural individual ones. Good tip-With any lash purchase they put them on for free!
This line is only found at Holt Renfrew in Canada, however much more common in the US.

 

"They're Real,"... I mean the lashes!

So if it isn't obvious by now, Jenn and I have an obsession for eyelashes. From extensions, enhancements, to the most effective mascaras, I'm almost positive that between the two of us, we've tried them all!

In conjunction with my Fusion Beauty StimuLashFusion(TM) Intensive Night Conditioning Lash Enhancer  ($99), I've been using Bad Gal Mascara by Benefit Cosmetics ($25) for a while now and I love it! It keeps my lashes soft and doesn't clump at all. I've recently finished another tube of this amazing product so off to Sephora I went to replenish my mascara. 

I've recently been hearing about Benefit's latest mascara craze They're Real! Mascara by Benefit Cosmetics ($29)  and thought Since I loved Benefit Cosmetics so much, it wouldn't hurt to try it.  Let me tell you that this has got to be the absolute best mascara that has ever touched my lashes. My lashes are thin, short, and sparse and this product after one application drastically lengthens and thickens them instantly!I found that one coat was all I needed.

Benefit Cosmetics is a really cute and girly brand and can be found at any Holt Renfrew or Sephora location. 

Try it out! I promise you will not be disappointed!

A Perfect 10!

Recently went to a new hair colourist. As they all do, he recommended a new product that will change my hair forever....and of course I agreed that I needed to have it!

I purchased It`s a Ten Miracle Leave In.  It claims to do ten things which are:

1. Detangles

2. Nourishes

3. De Frizzes

4. Softens

5. Smoothes

6. Restores Moisture Balance

7. Instantly Restores Elasticity

8. Improves Color Vibrancy

9. Restores Moisture Balance

10. Enhances Natural Body

 

It has many natural ingredients such as sunflower extract, green tea, and citric acid. I have very thin hair and I found that it didn`t weigh it down or give my hair a greasy look. I could also see that my hair had a different shine to it. This is a great detangler. If you like to comb your hair when it's wet, this stuff will make the comb glide right through your hair.
 It was very simple to use and I only needed a couple of sprays. Caution- The first time I used it I sprayed it 5 times and my hair was weighed down and greasy...Less is more! It is found at your local hair salons @ approx $25 for the small bottle. If you are getting sick of Moroccan Hair oil I would definitely suggest giving this a try. Next on my List- It`s a Ten Leave in with Keratin!

Feel great... without all the work!

Being a woman in this society, there is a lot of pressure to always look your best. This meaning you can't leave the house for a second without applying mascara, foundation, fixing up your hair, and putting on that semi-cute outfit just in case you run into someone you know. This ritual only leaves you feeling even more rushed because let's face it, looking "good" takes a lot of work!

What if I told you there's a way you can but your "ritual" time in half? Or, even less than that? To run out to the corner store or downstairs to get the mail and still feel great?

LADIES, here's the solution. 

1. Lash Extensions- Having longer and darker lashes especially using extensions will keep you away from even having to apply any mascara or eye make-up for that matter but will still give your eyes the enhanced sultry look! The investment may be a bit much however, extensions are meant to last at least 2-4 weeks depending on how you care for them. Xtreme Lashes has been the latest buzz in the salon and spa industry and unlike the cluster lashes that used to be applied, these single lashes are applied onto each one of your individual lashes. These lashes can last up to 2 months. 
2. Sunless Tanners- Instead of loading on  all that foundation, powder, and bronzer, or baking in those tanning beds, I have found sunless tanners are great for giving you that natural healthy glow all year long. Now the tricky part to this is how to find the right GRADUAL sunless tanner that won't leave you looking "orange" or streaky? I've tried many self tanners and came across Fake Bake Sunless Tanners. I was skeptical to try it since the models on the packaging were all so TANNED but gave it a shot anyways. I tried the Platinum Face Self Tanner with Cell Renewal and Apple Stem Cell and I found that the very next day, my face had a hint of colour. I was surprised to how natural it looked! It can be purchased at many salons and spas.

Lash Lacquer

My obsession of the month....... Lash Lacquer.

Film Noir Lash Lacquer by Hourglass, provides an ultra-glossy, inky black top coat for lashes that creates length, volume, and showstopping shine. 

To apply you should put it over your regular mascara. It creates more length and volume. In fact, if you apply it correctly it kind of looks like you are wearing false eyelashes. Definitely not a day look, but keep it in your handbag for a night time look. I love it so much that I went back to Sephora and it was sold out.
Slight downside-Veryyyy hard to get off. It actually took a couple of days (eww) to get it off once as I didn`t want to pull my eye-lashes out.

Watch this youtube clip to see an example of how amazing it works.

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-GSr88fpDeU

Good-bye Racoon Eyes!

Since I was 18 years old, I have always longed for an eyeliner that didn't run, smudge, or disappear before the end of the day. Just as I'm sure most women out there have tackled the same problem, wouldn't it be wonderful to apply your liner in the morning or when you go out at night and have it last the entire time without having to touch it up? Ladies, the cosmetic industry has answered our PRAYERS!

I have been an make-up trainer as well as a free-lance artist for some time now so I have dabbled with every new product in the market to find the best to use on my clients. I've been using liquid, pencil, shadow, but my new favourite has to be gel eye liners. Gel liners come in a variety of colours, they are completely smudge proof, does not run or crack like most liquid liners do, and fade resistant unlike most pencils. The only way to remove gel liners is to use an milk or cream base eye make-up remover. For all you ladies that are vacationing and enjoy being in the water, gel liners are almost completely waterproof! I find its also great for filling in your eyebrows and not worry about them melting or fading away!

Bobbi Brown's Long Wearing Gel Liner ($22.00) is an amazing gel liner. It comes in such a wide array of
colours and can also be used as a smudge and fade resistant eyeshadow. Applied best with an eye liner brush, always make sure you're quick with your application for the product does dry out pretty quick. Once it's dried, it may be difficult to manipulate. This can be found at your local Sephora or Holt Renfrew. 
colours and can also be used as a smudge and fade resistant eyeshadow. Applied best with an eye liner brush, always make sure you're quick with your application for the product does dry out pretty quick. Once it's dried, it may be difficult to manipulate. This can be found at your local Sephora or Holt Renfrew. 

Tarte EmphasEYES Aqua Gel Eye Liner ($18.00) is also another great gel liner. The great thing about this product is that if you love the results of a gel liner however, prefer the pencil application. It's essentially a gel liner in pencil form and also comes in a variety of colours. Also, found at your local Sephora.

Hyatt Curacao-Atabei Spa

One of my favourite past times is going to different destinations around the world and trying out their spas. I was sick of the whole all inclusive generic hotels, so I decided to venture to Curacao, which is a Dutch Island north of South America west of Aruba. Curacao is truly a place that isn`t commercialised at all-I didn`t see a single Subways, Starbucks, or McDonald`s- even when I went to town!. It is a place that is not overloaded with hotels and it is a beautiful place for marine life.  By the beach you can literally see dozens of tropical fish swimming by your feet, and in the resort we were surrounded by unique birds, animal life, and even mini crabs.

I chose to stay at Hyatt Curacao which is located in the Santa Barbara Plantation, a huge complex which has rolling mountains and a huge golf course.

The Hyatt hotel is massive, is less than 5 years old, and offers a wide variety of activities including a full tennis program, fitness classes, and golf. What I look for most in a resort before I go though, is their spa facilities.

Atabei Spa is located in the resort and offers a first class spa experience.  Each treatment room is completely private and offers a personal outside shower and a private outside secluded garden patio so that you can relax after your spa treatment. I loved it so much I went twice. First I had a relaxation massage (tip-always start your vacation off with a spa treatment so that you can completely relax for the rest of the trip) it was great! The second time I went I decided to try a unique treatment, so I went with the Curacao Laraha Sugar Scrub which is a fusion of curacao liqueur, orange peel, citrus oil, and brown sugar.  It provided my skin with a great glow and really exfoliated my skin. My only regret is that I didn`t pick some of the scrub in their gift shop for home :(

Nothing says "I love you" more than a spa day... So treat yourself!

As women, naturally we are nurturers. We always try and make sure everyone we care about is taken care of in every aspect our life whether it's at home or in the workplace. We have to try and remember that we are just as important and need to be pampered as well and that's exactly what I did this past Sunday!

My friend and I decided to book a spa day to treat ourselves. After a nice lunch and some shopping in Yorkville, we headed over to Novo Spa in Yorkville for our 4PM appointments. I've been to many spas before and also being an esthetician by trade, I am extremely difficult to please during a treatment. This was my second time at Novo and I loved it even more than the first time! They have a beautiful spa as well as great amenities for their clients to access. My registered massage therapist (my second time booking with her which means she was THAT great) was so thorough and listened to what my concerns were. I love deep tissue massages and her massage could not be any deeper. I also treated myself to an Eminence Organic Blueberry Soy Sugar Body Polish because I hate the feeling of oils on me after a massage and I found it to be satisfactory. My technician was very sweet and made me feel comfortable however, I just don't think I would do it again. I'm  a huge fan of Eminence Organics Skin Care however, the treatment was missing that "WOW" factor. That didn't dampen my experience however because everything was so fantastic!

After my treatment, I felt so rejuvenated and stress free! What a couple of hours of "YOU" time can really do for you and your sanity. We work so hard as women making sure everyone else is tend too however, it always seems as though we don't take enough time for ourselves. You only have one life to live and you should be the first priority on your list! How can we take care of others if we can't take care of ourselves? 

LATISSE!

I love Latisse! Previously I wrote about eyelash extenstions and how I am addicted. Well I decided to grow them out and tried many products to assist with that.  While I started to see results, it was not anything near my previous fake lashes, so I decided to "invest" in Latisse. The creator of Latisse is actually the creator of Botox, so I figured they must have something worthwhile!
I saw the infomercials that I usually roll my eyes at.... I mean usually celebrity paid endorsements are usually products that companies are so desparate to sell that they heavily promote so people will try their product. I also read on-line on some comments, and to be honest I heard mixed reviews. But I decided it was worth the try and invested with some Christams money and started the first week of Janaury.
At first I really didn't notice anything, but I am on week 5 and I am starting to see signficant results! My eyelashes are longer and slightly fuller.  The total cost of this was $150 and can be found at many spas in wolrdwide. I purchased mine in Sherway Gardens in Toronto, Ontario @ Pure Med Spa
Some useful tips-
1. Make sure you apply evenly, or your lashes will grow longer in certain places!
2. Keep out of your eyes- it will burn if you don't
3. Make sure you apply every night to get optimal results






Before



After

If it jiggles, it's fat!

Who else is trying to get that beach body this summer? From boot camps to personal trainers and from gym memberships to yoga classes, how can we determine what is best for our body and which will offer us the best results?



I can honestly say I have tried THEM ALL! I think that each choice does have there pros and of course, results require dedication and consistency. As great as each option was, I still was struggling to see results and to actually get into a workout routine that was best for me until technology hit me!

Xbox Kinect has made working out and losing weight fun! A night of Dance Central 2 with friends turned into a crazy workout! I was actually sweating from all the dancing and the next day, my body was sore just as if I had an intense workout the day before. After this, I was introduced to Xbox's new game, "Your Shape Fitness Evolved". My brother in law recommended so I decided to try it out. Let's just say within the next couple of days, I canceled my gym membership and have been working out with this program 4x a week. The great thing about this game is that you don't even feel like you're working out but boy do you sweat! It customizes a workout regime that targets exactly the results you're looking for and makes exercising fun! 


                        

I highly recommend this game to anyone that hates to exercise but is looking to shed some extra pounds!

-Julie

Curbing Your Appetite

    A new year means a new start! I'm sure everyone has a million of resolutions that they would ideally like to achieve or stick to and I am almost certain that majority of our resolutions include a healthier lifestyle and weight loss.I for one, am one of them!

    Jenn recently posted about a cleansing system that has worked great for her and I am definitely going to try that one out! But I really wanted to let everyone know about the craziest thing I've tried most recently.

    One of my biggest battles with weight loss has always been my tendency to "over eat" or not eat at all due to a busy lifestyle. I know both are major contributing factors to weight gain. What do you do when you REALLY don't have time to eat 6 small nutritious meals a day to keep your metabolism going? I've been speaking with a colleague of mine and it just so happens that she is a fitness model and personal trainer and she was able to recommend a solution. 

    U-Be Protien Berry Chews is great for anyone that has a busy lifestyle and just doesn't have the time to snack during the day. It comes in a small size chew and tastes just like candy! It contains high nutritional content and the best part about it is that it fills you up so that you don't over eat!

    It comes in 2 great flavours, Espresso Berry and Berry. It can be purchased online at http://www.u-be.ca/

-Julie

New Year Cleanse!

I'm all about starting the New Year off right, and at the top of my New Year's resolutions are usually something about diet and health. This year is no different. I decided to start off my weight loss goals right on January 1st and pre-ordered a 3-day cleanse from TotalCleanse.ca starting today!
I am on the refresh cleanse and it involves 6 bottles a day with alternating juices taken throughout the day.
1. Green Energy
2. Lemonade
3. Green Energy
4. Very Berry
5. Lemonade
6. Green Energy

It gets delivered to your house already prepared in cute little green lunch cooler things-so it is super convenient! Caution-NO Coffee! This is really hard for me so I hope that something in the product keeps me up throughout the day.I am not one to eat consistently throughout the day so cleanses are a great way to get your body used to consuming something every few hours.  It is only 4pm and I am half way through day one with no coffee so far, and feel okay...I hope that I can keep it up!

There are many advantages to cleanses...Please check with your doctor first before trying any of them !!!
1. Cleansed palate. One of the most interesting but less thought of pros of a cleansing diet is the fact that when you don’t eat any processed foods for several days or weeks, you lose your taste for them. Many cleansing diets require you to only drink teas or juices. When you’ve finished with the diet, you no longer crave the processed foods you once did. Twinkies and fast food burgers are no longer appealing.
2. Cleaned out toxins. While this isn’t scientifically proven, many believe that toxins are indeed cleaned out of your body when you go on a cleansing diet. If this is true, then this is certainly a significant benefit to your overall health.

3. Temporary weight loss. Most cleansing diets result in weight loss. The weight loss varies by type of diet and duration; a two day fast will not result in as much weight loss as you might imagine. If you plan on incorporating very healthy eating habits after your cleansing diet is complete, then you may be able to maintain the weight loss. However, the majority of weight loss will not be permanent. Some people choose to go on a cleansing diet right before an important event where they want to look particularly good, like a class reunion.

4. More energy. The majority of people who are fans of cleansing diets will tell you that one of the major benefits of a cleansing diet is the increase in energy you feel. This increase in energy can occur both during the diet and after the diet is completed.