BREAKFAST TOAST

I have made it my mission this year to eat a healthy breakfast to start my day. Mornings can be quite a rush, so making something fast and filling is ideal. I like to grab my whole grain bread, toast it up, and top it off with various ingredients to create a healthy and quick breakfast. These are my go-to breakfast toasts for those busy mornings!

AVOCADO & CHILI FLAKES

I absolutely love avocados! It wakes me up and is a delicious fresh start to my day. I take a ripe avocado, smash it up with a fork, and spread across the toast. I then top it off with salt, pepper, and red chili flakes to give it a kick. Trust me when I say this is a vibrant way to start off your day!

CRUNCHY PEANUT BUTTER, BANANA & CINNAMON

Peanut butter and bananas are a match made in heaven! It is the prefect combination to give you that extra skip in your step those early morning days. I like to use crunchy peanut butter for some texture, sliced bananas, and a sprinkle of cinnamon. This breakfast toast doubles as a dessert for those of you with a sweet tooth.

GREEK YOGURT, BERRIES, WALNUTS & HONEY

This is packed with a bunch of healthy and delicious ingredients. I like to use Greek yogurt for my base, followed by any berries that I can find at the grocery store. I then sprinkle some walnuts for some texture and top it all off with honey for that little bit of sweetness. This is super filing and keeps my hunger at bay until lunchtime!

The great thing about these recipes is that you can add any toppings you like to create something that works for you! I usually like to add eggs to my avocado toast when I have more time on the weekends or use different types of fruits and nuts to change it up. The possibilities are endless and quite delicious. Try these breakfast toast ideas and let me know if they liven up your mornings! Enjoy!

 

KEEPING A JOURNAL

Before heading to bed, I have made it my mission to jot down some thoughts in a journal. I use it as a way to reflect, keep positive, and to set goals. It has been a great way for me to calm my mind and body before ending the day off. I have been enjoying doing this, and figured I would share my views on this process. I highly recommend it!

GOALS

I really wanted to challenge myself to try new things in the upcoming year. I find by writing my goals down on paper, it helps me picture them. It allows me to visualize the development and growth I want for myself. Also, who doesn’t love crossing things off your list? You feel accomplished, and it is highly satisfying!

 THERAPEUTIC 

Writing is a great outlet to get things off your chest. It can be a comforting and calming activity to do after you’ve had a long day. Take everything that is jumbled up in your head and write it down; personally it gives me a sense of clarity. It feels like taking a nice deep breath; in with the positivity, out with the negativity.

TRIP DOWN MEMORY LANE

In high school, my friends and I actually had a “black book” where we took turns writing down and drawing – funny things that happened that day, our goals, our crushes, and so on. Reading that back today as an adult, is simply hilarious!  It’s just great to see the way our minds worked at that age. We all have the absolute best time reading through and reminiscing those days. It’s honestly great to see your progression and how far you’ve come. Besides, who know knows, you could be super famous one day and need to write an autobiography. This would come in handy!

POSITIVE AFFIRMATIONS

I feel most people are good at sending out positive vibes to the important people in their lives. However, you often forget that you too are important! Remind yourself of how awesome you are, and that you have the will to achieve anything you set your mind to. I try to end each entry on a positive note, whether it’s something I am proud of doing that day, or even a simple “You go girl, you can do it!” Being positive and spreading that self-love is key!

 

A journal is not meant to be a daunting task so don’t think you have to force your self to write in it every day. You can simply jot down your thoughts whenever you feel like it. Your entries can be as long or as short as you like; it’s really up to you! So pick a cute journal, grab a pen, and start writing!

FALL LOOKBOOK

Here are some looks to inspire your wardrobe this fall. It’s time to showcase that inner fashionista!

CASUAL

1. This is a super cute and easy look! A knitted dress is a must have for fall and it can be worn many different ways. I chose to go with a minimalist style and pair it with some white sneakers. This look may be a little cheeky for some of you out there but do not fret; this will look just as good paired with knee-highs or knitted stockings.

Knitted dress – Forever 21

Sneakers – Keds

2. This look is neutral with a deep, warm toned colour. The top is a beautiful colour perfect for fall, and has a classic cut that anyone can pull off. I paired this with black jeans and black chunky booties to keep it simple. You can never go wrong with using black to ground an outfit.

Top – Forever 21

Jeggings – Garage

Booties – Call it Spring

CHIC

3. Suede is definitely in trend this season and I am not one to complain. I chose to pair this mini skirt, with a black high neck top and black strappy heels to keep the focus on the skirt. Again, if the skirt is too short for your liking, pair it with some knitted stockings or knee-highs. I opted for a leather jacket to bring the look together and give it a little spunk.

Jacket – Zara

Top – Forever 21

Skirt – Zara

Heels – Asos

COMFY AND COZY

4. I love to pull out my flannel shirts for fall! I particularly like my shirts to be a bit over sized for that cozy feel. I chose to pair it with some combat boots, which are a must have for this season. They are practical and go with almost any look.

Shirt – Garage

Leggings – Dynamite

Boots – Steve Madden

5. Who doesn’t love a nice chunky sweater? These will be your saviours all the way into winter. I paired a neutral knitted sweater with light washed jeans and brown boots to give it that warm and cozy feel. To give this look some colour and dimension I threw on a multi-coloured checkered scarf.

Sweater – H&M

Jeans – Garage

Boots – Call it Spring

Scarf – Garage

Hopefully that gave you some inspiration for your outfits this fall. Let me know what your favourite fall pieces are and how you like to style them. Everyone has his or her own unique style so make sure to strut your stuff this season!

FALL ESSENTIALS

Lets switch gears and get into the fall mood! Here are a few things that pop into my head when I think of fall.

CANDLES
You can’t start off fall without a lovely fall candle! I’ll be honest, I like to light candles all year round, but it isn’t until the fall where I really get that itch to fill my entire house with the aroma and ambiance of candles. It gives your space such a warm and cozy feel. My absolute favourite fall candle is Sweater Weather from Bath and Body Works. It’s a light fresh scent; every time I light this candle I just think about crunchy leaves and cozy sweaters!

BOLD BERRY LIPS
This has to be my favourite thing about transitioning into the fall. You go from bright and summery colours, to deep and bold colours. Adding a deep lip colour immediately changes your look to sexy and sophisticated. It’s an easy way to add a little flare to your look. It is also such a universal look that anyone can pull off. Whether your skin is light or dark, everyone can rock a bold berry lip.

OVERSIZED KNITS
It’s time to get comfy and cozy with oversized sweaters! I love to cuddle up in my sweater on those chilly fall nights. It is a must have piece that looks adorable on everyone. You can just throw one on and head out the door; no effort needed and you always manage to look great! Plus, they do a great job of hiding those huge comfort meals we start eating this time of year. Who doesn’t like that?

BOOTS
Keeping up a pedicure all summer long can be a daunting task. Not worry, because fall calls for boots! Time to switch out those open toed shoes to comfy boots. Knee-highs, booties, wedges, etc. you name it, I love my boots! There is a style out there to suit each and every one. Not to mention, an oversized sweater just isn’t complete without a pair of boots to match.

SCARVES
This is a great accessory to add to your fall look. Whatever way you style them they always add that touch of warmth to an outfit. Blanket scarves are specifically great because you can use them as blankets! Think about those chilly days in the office where you can just take your chic accessory and use it to keep warm. It’s a win-win!

Those are my top 5 must-haves to transition into fall. What are your fall essentials?

HAPPY DRINKING!

I’ve recently found myself exploring the world of cocktails. Aside from mixing rum and coke, I for one really had no idea what the art of mixology was really about. I know we all love chugging down our hard liquor but why not pair it with different ingredients to create a flavourful composition. Thanks to cocktail connoisseur and founder of Cocktail Crate Alex Abbott Boyd, I’ve gotten a real sense of the culinary expertise and creativity that goes into making a cocktail. Cocktails take you through a stimulating journey of taste and texture by adding fresh and flavourful ingredients to alcohol.

Now this all sounds great, but how does one make these carefully executed drinks? The beauty of Cocktail Crate is that it offers ready-made mixers for you to create professional cocktails right at home! You can now dazzle your friends and family with your suave bartending abilities using these flavourful mixers. Hopefully this review entices you to journey through the world of cocktails!

OVERVIEW: Cocktail Crate offers handmade mixers with local and fresh ingredients. These mixers are great because the hard part is essentially done for you. All you have to do is mix it with your favourite alcohol and voila- you have professional great tasting cocktails made right at home! What I really love about this company is that you can tell that there is passion put into the creation of their products, which definitely comes through with the well-executed mixers.

PACKAGING: I absolutely love the packaging! It has a rustic but streamline look to it; very simple but super effective. The back of the package actually gives you a little recipe with a list of the different alcohols that the mixer will pair well with, which I thought was a nice touch.

TASTE: I received the Ginger Bee mixer to try first. Naturally, I picked up Captain Morgan’s Spiced Rum to see how it would pair with this mixer, rather than the usual coke I tend to go with. I have to say it was absolutely lovely! The flavours worked really well together with the rum and took it to another level. You can really taste the sweetness of honey and hints of ginger that were added in the mixer. This would be something I would surely make for my guests!

PURCHASE: You can order these mixers online at www.cocktailcrate.com for $12. You can also pick these up at specific food festivals. Check out Cocktail Crates Facebook page to see where they will be selling. It really is great quality for an inexpensive price!

Definitely check out the website to learn more about Cocktail Crate. Read up on Alex and his journey, and check out the different recipes they offer as well. While you’re there don’t forget to pick up some mixers for yourself! Happy drinking!