It's All White In Winter

 It's finally winter here in Toronto. We have been experiencing snowy and freezing temperatures during this month of February. As usual, everything outside is covered with snow. It is all white around us. This week was New York Fashion Week, there were brave fashion ladies who ventured out wearing white all over. Wearing winter whites is for the brave ones who want to stand out and stylish all year round. Just make sure to avoid the slush. 

 

 

 

Photo Credits: Fashion photos are from Phil Oh at Vogue.com and Tommy Ton at Style.com.

Have a wonderful weekend!

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Winter Essential Oils

During the bitter cold last week, some of my friends last week shared that their skin felt so brittle dry even with the use of lotion. Here in Canada, our winters could be really harsh and cold which causes dry skin, dry scalp and dry hair. I learnt that to survive winter here in Canada, we must adjust our skin care regimen just like we change our clothes to adopt to the Four Seasons.

One of the products I use during Winter to combat dryness is the DHC Cleansing Oil made from Olive oil and Vitamin E. I have to admit that I am a convert to using a facial cleansing oil. I have combination Oily/Dry skin so I have never used any oil based products on my skin. But this DHC Cleansing Oil works well for me this Winter as it thoroughly cleans my skin from make-up, unclogged pores and removes any other dirt. It also moisturises that I now use a dab of Serum and moisturiser on my face. For sure, I cannot use this during the Spring or Summer because then my face will be all shiny from the oil. I also recommend the Shu Uemura Anti-Oxi Skin Refining Cleansing Oil which feature moringa and green tea extracts to combant pollutants.

My scalp also gets dry during Winter so I have loyally used the AVEDA Beautifying Composition Oil for my scalp. I used just a few drops and massage it to my scalp before using the shampoo. 

Then for the Body, it is also very important to use a Body Oil. My favourite is the L'Occitane Almond Shower Oil which forms into a lavish foam when mixed with water and used all over the Body. I also love the subtle smell of the almond all over the shower. It is not too overpowering but the oils are effective to moisturise the skin. 

Believe it or not, I discovered the Aromachologie Collection from L'Occitane in the Philippines, a tropical country, when we visited there last October. The Shangri-la Hotels in Manila use L'Occitane as their giveaway toiletries. I tried all of these products when I was there and they worked perfectly for me. These products were made from Five Essential Oils: Angelica, Ylang-Ylang, Lavender, Sweet Orange and Geranium which are all grown in the Provence region in France. These oils are used for the repairing complex in the skin and hair. Now I add them to my Winter skin care regimen especially the Shampoo and Conditioner.

What are your Winter skincare essentials?

View here the Holts Muse Best Face Forward feature for your Skin.

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Week of Polar Vortex

This week we experienced the brutal bone-chilling cold, called the Polar Vortex which affected cities from Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Toronto, Montreal to all the way to the Atlantic Provinces. The same was also felt in the North East United States and even as far as Atlanta, Georgia where they had negative winter chilling temperatures too. I know it sounds like we were in some kind of Polar Express, just like the Movie. We might as well be because the forecast is that this Polar Vortex might stay for awhile. 

 This Polar Vortex trekked down all the way from the Arctic North Pole to meet the warmer Jet stream from the South affecting the North East USA to Canada. It was truly brutally cold for the past few days with the temperature here in Toronto at -24C with a wind chill of -40C. We were warned in the News that skin exposed for more than 10 minutes outside this chilling temperature will result in frost bite. Everywhere was brutally cold and white with snow.

 

 These birds were hanging out in our tree. 

Of course, Mr. Squirrel here just loves to play in the snow.

 Canada Goose White Parka Winter Coat,  Blue Toque, Infinity Scarf, Haven Print Scarf and gloves all from Roots and Boots from Sorel.  The News on both TV and Radio announced  that this was not the time for fashion during the brutal Arctic weather. But of course, we can still be Arctic Fashionable. What is your Winter Style.? 

As for me, I have been keeping warm by staying indoors at Home to play some Board games with family, catch up on my reading of some Books and watch some movies. Perhaps play a game of Backgammon for now.  

Photo credit: Vogue.com

Keep safe and warm this Weekend!

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Snowscapes

The Saturday morning after our first snow storm here in Toronto, everything was covered with snow and looked so picturesque. Our first snow storm last Friday night decided to arrive on a Friday Rush hour. The drive home felt like forever. But waking up to these views on a Saturday morning was just lovely. I decided to bring along my camera as Barkley and I had our morning walk around the neighbourhood. I also photographed our Garden here at home. This is our winter scene. 

A majestic Pine Tree in our neighbourhood. 

Our Front Garden covered with snow. 

Here are some Winter Berries from our garden.

The snow has settled on the lamp posts and plants. 

The snow has settled on the Reindeer and on lamp posts. 

A view of our snow covered Garden. 

The snow formed like cotton balls on the branches. Spotted a Bird's nest covered with snow. That's our little Bird's house on our tree. 

The snow are like cotton balls on the branches. 

That's Barkley in our snow covered Backyard. 

May you all have a wonderful week!

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Winter Wonderland

This weekend is the last weekend of 2012. It is also the Winter season which means for us here in Toronto, snow time!  We finally had our first snow fall this week right after Christmas Day. As fresh snow started falling, people went about their own business shopping during Boxing Day to enjoy all of the Sales. I was out that night to watch Andrew Lloyd Weber's Wizard of Oz Broadway show. There was no snow yet when we  entered the theatre. After the show, Wow, fresh drops of snow greeted us outside. As we all prepare for the coming New Year, I hope we will all take the time to relax, to enjoy the snow, to reflect on our accomplishments in 2012 and also look forward to the coming 2013.

Dorothy's Ruby Slippers from The Wizard of Oz, currently showing in Toronto. Just like Dorothy, we should be open to adventure but also realize that we should be also be grateful and be content for what we already have as there is no "place like home."

Dundas Square, Toronto.

 A snowy Park in Black and White.

A Toronto park all covered in fresh snow.

Today, I had an epiphany. I finally felt in my heart that I am finally finished with letting go of the past. Now, I am moving on and believe that miracles do happen. 

Our smiling Mr. Snowman. 

May you all have a wonderful Winter weekend! 

(All photos filtered through Instagram)

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