Fairmont Royal York Staycation + The Magic of Toronto Light Fest
Nathalie and I recently had the opportunity to spend a night at the Fairmont Royal York in one of their luxury suites while we attended the Toronto Light Festival in the beautiful historic Distillery District. It was a wonderful evening first spent wandering the old alleyways and sharing in the experience in an otherwise cold and dreary month when most people are reluctant to step outside.
If you are in Toronto or planning to come to Toronto this winter, then put the Light Festival on your list of things to see. And if you’re looking for a place to stay afterward, may we recommend the Fairmont Royal York.
The Toronto Light Festival itself is an event brought to Toronto in collaboration with many artists from around the globe where they put together many amazing sculptures and interactive light displays, inviting you to get outside and experience the magic of winter in Toronto.
Some of the installations are interactive allowing you to swing on them, walk through them, watch them sway in the wind or just be mesmerized by their colours and interactive sounds. My personal favourite was the dangling light display which you could walk right through as it blinked and changed colours all around you.
They are all truly works of art and can be enjoyed at your own pace or on a guided tour if wanted. It was certainly chilly outside, but we were kept warm either inside one of the many shops or by sampling hot cider and hot chocolate at Soma and Cacao 70 or having a fun and casual dinner at the Mill Street Brewery.
Afterward, we headed back to the Fairmont and joined our host at REIGN restaurant for an evening of cocktails and food sampling. REIGN is described as a modern Canadian Brasserie with a traditional French touch. It’s surely worth a stop if you’re looking for drinks, a bite to eat, want to meet up with a friend or are even looking to entertain business associates. Live music was being played while we were there and the environment was fun and lively.
And in case you haven’t heard, the Fairmont Royal York has just undergone a major renovation. Upon entering, you will notice that the spiral staircase has been removed and they’ve added the Clockwork Champagne & Cocktails bar situated right in the middle of the main lobby! It seemed quite a buzz while we were there. The lobby itself is beautifully decorated with a timeless elegance giving it the look and feel of the 5 Star rated luxury hotel that it is.
The Fairmont is centrally located on Front Street right across from Union Station, making it super convenient if you’re taking transit into Toronto from out of town. And if you want to stay specifically for the Light Festival itself, they even offer a package from now until March 1, 2020, which includes accommodation, an exclusive walking and tasting tour, and a buffet breakfast for two.
If you or someone you know is looking for something to do this winter, this may be something for you to consider. We found it to be a fun way to spend some time outdoors and gave us an excuse to find some time for ourselves.
Just bundle up though so that you are comfortable, then let the lights guide you down each alleyway as you find something new to see and explore. When you’re done all that, it’s a quick drive to the hotel where you can retire to the comfort of your suite for the evening, have a nightcap on the main level or go out and explore the city until your heart's content. This turned out to be something that we both enjoyed and hope to have the opportunity to go back and do again soon.
In Collaboration with The Fairmont Royal York & Toronto Light Fest.
Written by Geoff Martin.
Photos by Geoff & Nathalie Martin.
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WHISTLER TRAVEL DIARY: WHAT SHOES TO PACK ON YOUR TRIP
As you guys know, I had a chance to visit Whistler last month with Shoppers Drug Mart. The trip was amazing and right up my alley since we did our fair share of hiking, restaurant hoping and gondola rides up to Blackcomb Mountain.
Since I have so many pictures to share, I thought I would spilt my post into three parts:
Fall beauty trend forecasting with Shoppers (post here)
What to Do (coming soon)
What to Pack (what you're reading now)
If you're like me then you stress out about what to pack on holiday, let alone a press trip with plenty of out doors activities. My solution, chic and comfortable Stan Smiths (from Town Shoes) and cute ankle boots (also from Town Shoes). Both are excellent for traveling since they're easy to slip in and out of at the airport and they go well with so many different outfits. I wish I had a picture to show you guys but on my last day in Whistler, I wore a cute LBD, a leather jacket and my Stan Smiths to dinner. It was the perfect balance of chic but still elegant enough for a dinner out.
I always like to pack at least one pair of black jeans. They can easily be dressed up and dressed down. A striped long sleeve top is a fun way to keep an outfit from looking too serious and of course my Stan Smiths from Town Shoes are perfect for any scenario.
The climate in Whistler changes from day to day and depending on where you are. As we rode up the gondola to Blackcomb Mountain, it was chilly and foggy. Once on top, the clouds broke and the sun came out.
MY WHISTLER SHOE PICKS
From classic white kicks to suede ankle boots. These Dolca Vita booties from Town Shoes are excellent for transitioning your wardrobe from summer to fall. Bonus, they're so comfortable you can wear them all day.
Finally, make sure you pack layers. My go-to is my Mackage leather jacket and a long sleeved top. I also like to carry around a small crossbody bag like the Saint Laurent bag in this post because they're worry free.
People are always surprised to hear that I'm a nature nut. I would leave the city in a heartbeat to live in the mountains. Obsiously saying goodbye to Whistler wasn't easy but I'm thankful for the experience. Take me back please!
* This post is sponsored by Town Shoes. All photos and opinions are my own.
** Special thanks to Shoppers Drug Mart & Fairmont Chateau Whistler.
BOLD MAKEUP FOR FALL: PURPLE EYE SHADOW
Happy Monday friends! With the constant heatwave in Toronto I know it's hard to think about fall but that's exactly what I'll be discussing today. If you follow me on Instagram you'll know that I've been in Whistler with Shoppers Drug Mart having the time of my life - dining on incredible meals, taking in the scenic views of Blackcomb Mountain and most importantly, looking fall makeup makeup trends and discussing our "beauty nevers". #BeautyDare (!!!)
I love playing around with makeup and there's hardly any trend I shy away from. Even still, purple eye shadow and false lashes have always been on the top of my list "never" list. Purple shadow because I feel it makes my olive skin look muddy and lack lustre and falsies because I don't have the patience for them. The few times I've attempted both, I've regretted it soon after and couldn't wait to get home to wash my face.
Photo by: Roxanne West of bonjourbliss.com
For my Shoppers #BeautyDare challenge, I sat down with makeup artist Simone Otis (known for her work with Shoppers Drug Mart, Elle, Bazaar, Rita Ora, Lorde, Bite Beauty, Fashion, Flare and Elisha Cuthbert to name a few), to create a purple eye and talk about beauty techniques when applying false lashes. This is what I learned.
1. Makeup artist Simone Otis put my "beauty never" to rest and showed me that olive skin can be a good canvas for purple shadow.
She created graphic eye on me and explained the secret is to layer in a few shades to really make the purple pop. For my look she used Clarins Cream-to-Powder eyeshadow in Silver Plum as a base and then layered in three purple shades from Urban Decay - Gravity, Asphyxia and Psychedelic Sister. The look was finished with a subtle cat eye, curled lashes and lots of mascara. I'm not gonna lie, it was a bit strange seeing my eyes wrapped in so much purple but that was the whole point of this challenge, to step outside of our comfort zone and try something new.
When I replicated the look on myself I added a touch of pink on the inner corner of my eye and transitioned to purple on the outer corners. A lot of purple still feels foreign to me so this was my way of getting comfortable with the colour. Now that I understand how purple works with my olive skin tone, I'm excited to try a bold purple cat eye that transitions to black on the outer corners. It's more within my comfort zone while still being bold.
2. Applying false lashes doesn't have to be daunting.
As much as I like the look of false lashes I never do it because it takes so much time and there's so much room for error (or so I thought). Simone showed me a technique no one really talks about that blew my mind!
Use individual lashes instead of a strip to create a more natural look that will hold up longer. She applied about 11 individual lashes on the upper part of my eye. She started at the outer corners and concentrated most of the individuals there. Then she moved towards the centre of my lash line and left the inner corner au naturel. The finished look was natural but still very bold. I doubt anyone would have been able to tell I was wearing falsies if I hadn't told them.
The benefits of individual lashes outweigh strip lashes in my opinion. You can add as many or as little extensions as you want anywhere you need it. They're also less likely to fall off which is amazing! (We've all been there, when your lash strip lifts from the inner part of your eye and no one tells you. Not cute!)
Finally, make sure to use a good lash glue. Simone introduced me to Duo lash adhesive. If you wear falsies than you would have already heard of it but this was a whole new world for me. It dries clear and it's hypoallergenic. Perf!
I gotta hand it to Simone Otis, she converted me on my "beauty never". I might not wear purple eyeshadow or false lashes daily but at least now I know how therefore I feel more confident pulling off these looks.
Now it's your turn. I dare you step outside of your comfort zone and think about your "beauty never". Start by talking to a makeup artist. Shoppers has an amazing team ready to teach you the tricks and tips you need to achieve a new fall look. Make sure to ask a lot of questions when you sit down with them so that you feel comfortable replicating the looks at home.
This post is in collaboration with Shoppers Drug Mart.
All opinions and photos are my own.
DOG SLEDDING ADVENTURES
Out of all of the activities we had lined up in Banff and Lake Louise, I was most looking forward to dog sledding. I was imagining gigantic, majestic huskies with piercing blue eyes and cuddly thick fur. Instead I was surprised to see small 40-50 pound doggies that wouldn't stop yapping from excitement of running in the snow. I have two cats at home so being around barking dogs was making me really nervous because I'm not used to it. I sucked it up, climbed into the sled and we took off with David, our sled driver (is that what they're called?). He told us stories about moving from northern Ontario to the Yukon where he was a professional dog sledder. Who would have thought that was even a thing? The cool thing about everyone we met on our Banff & Lake Louise excursion, are the people who come from all walks of life. They all have one thing in common - they love living in the mountains. It's cool hearing their stories and experiencing a part of what they do on their day to day, like dog sledding or snowshoeing or being a guide. (I realize I sound like a total nerd right now!)
Anyway, dog sledding was cool but cold as hell. Once more I found myself wishing I'd been wearing warmer gear. Next time!
xo, Nathalie
Geoff and I wrapped up as warm as possible meeting our sled dogs.
ON LOCATION at Banff, AB c/o Fairmont Banff Springs
BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION
So it's December 21st, the winter solstice, the last a day of the Sagittarius sign and it's also my bday. I've always done resolutions on my birthday instead of New Years, because I like to set out to accomplish certain things at each age. This year I've been so busy that I haven't had time to properly reflect but I know that I want to reach a new level of blogging goals for myself and work on going full time. Right now I juggle between working a full time job and blogging full time, which is an insane amount of work and leaves me exhausted night after night. Someone asked me recently, "is it worth it?", and yes, it absolutely is!! I've met some people along the way who think blogging is an easy route to success and free things, but they don't realize how much work goes into it. It's constant in terms of either pushing content out into the cyber world, shooting looks or just getting inspired. Blogging never takes a break.
Earlier this year I created a mental list of brands that I want to work with. The list wasn't majorly long or anything, but at this point, I've worked with all of them, except for one. I know it's all a matter or time till they come knocking.
My list this coming year will consist of more travel, family time, me time and of course, #fulltimestatus.
I'm going to cut this short for now so I can get to bed at a decent hour for once but first, THANK YOU, for supporting my blog so far and helping me get there. You guys rock!
xo, Nathalie
#GOALS // Thank you so much to my friends at the Fairmont Banff Lake Louise for my recent trip to the Canadian Rockies!
ON LOCATION, Fairmont Banff Springs
Banff Springs
A little bit of downtime left us to explore the beautiful Fairmont Banff Springs. The view from the terrace is unreal. My trip may be wrapped up but my mind is still in Alberta, dreaming of when I can go back.
xo, Nathalie
WHAT I'M WEARING
ZARA, stripped top (similar here)
THE KOOPLES, leopard scarf (similar here)
RAG & BONE, zippered jeans (same style, different colour here)
GIVENCHY, small Pandora with studs
GUISEPPE ZANOTTI, ankle boots (available in croc here)
FELONY CASE, iPhone 6 plus case
ON LOCATION, Fairmont Banff Springs
Snow Shoeing at 7,800 Feet Elevation
When I was told we were going snow shoeing while in Banff, I thought "I got this". I layered up my cozy Roots fleece leggings with some thermal long johns and headed up for the gondola/ chair lift ride that would take us up to 7,800 feet on top of one of the mountains in Sunshine Valley. The guide took one look at my leggings and sent me inside for proper snow pants. With the pants on, my legs resembled thick tree trucks and left me an unideal subject to photograph. Seriously, the photographer we were with on this trip didn't snap one picture of me in this ridiculous outfit. But tell me, how am I supposed to look cute and blog worthy when it's -20 degrees on the ground and then you get to the mountain and all of the guides are talking about frost bite? How?? All that kept running through my mind was "hypothermia is real", something that was said to us on the first day. It was so cold that Geoff and I only snapped a few pictures with my new blogger friend Jill of The Augusts Diaries, before we headed inside for mulled wine.
I truthfully would recommend this to anyone, but dress appropriately and don't expect your photos to look like a page out of Vogue. And if you do manage to end up looking all "Vogue-like", well kudos to you!
xo, Nathalie
MOUNTAIN VIEWS
I'm finally home after a 4 night getaway at the beautiful Fairmont in Banff & Lake Louise. Our schedule was jam packed with lots of winter activities but we found time to get dressed in "real clothes" aka, no bulky winter coats, thermal layers and snow boots. Trust me, when you're wearing heavy winter gear all of the time, a pair of 4" heels is welcome!
I'll be updating the rest of my Winter Wonderland stories soon so check soon!
xo,
Nathalie
WHAT I'M WEARING
THE KOOPLES, Smoking Jacket
SAKS, cashmere scarf (gift from Global Garçon)
RAG & BONE, distressed jeans.
RAYE, Thalia pumps (exact here)
VALENTINO, Rockstud clutch
ON LOCATION, Fairmont Banff Springs
Frozen Waterfalls: Johnston Canyon
The hike up to Johnson Canyon has probably been my favourite part of this trip so far. Yes it was cold, and yes I was hungry from having consumed too many sugary carbs, but that view was worth it. I can't believe how the turquoise coloured waterfall pops, even in the winter. I'd love to see it during summer. Perhaps I should plan a trip back! ;)
xo, Nathalie
WHAT I'M WEARING
ROOTS, pom pom hat, scarf and wool tunic.
CANADA GOOSE, jacket.
COUGAR BOOTS, Apex boots.
THE DRAKE GENERAL STORE, thermal long johns.