happy weekend, happy birthday

Hope everyone has a great weekend, signing out early as I'm celebrating my Birthday this weekend! Here are a few of my favourite type of beauty shots, behind the scenes at fashion shows.

Valentino 2012 Spring/Summer Couture

 via style.com

Valentino 2012 S/S Couture

via style.com

Giambattista Valli 2012 S/S Couture

via style.com

Christian Dior S/S 2012 Couture

via style.com

Armani Privé 2012 S/S Couture

via style.com

not just a Powder Room {Interior Design}

powder room by beautyparler on polyvore.com

Being that I'm in the home designing mode, here are a few thoughts & ideas on Powder Rooms. Have fun! Its the one room in your house where you can go a bit wild in terms of design. It is a small enough room for D.I.Y projects, easy to change with a coat of paint or wallpaper, and the one room where your guests will eventually end up in + its really a room just for them. While in Paris this past Summer, most older apartments had their toilets in a seperate room. Basically, their main bathrooms consisted only of a tub/shower and sink...no toilet. Odd right? This is because of the age of Paris apartments and of course older plumbing issues. Also, what I loved was the creativity put into these powder rooms. Although very small in size, most were decorated with items not typically found in North American powder rooms. Think small libraries...ok so you'll find magazines in powder rooms but shelving with books is not common as is personal framed pictures. Got me thinking! My first reaction was eww germs on books but at the same time I'd like to assume my guests are pretty clean peeps, right? Also, library books are not any cleaner.
What are your thoughts on having books and magazines in powder rooms?
Other items, large posters like the "Keep Calm..." British War posters (which I purchased at Homesense, a discount design store in Canada) or any other. Having a large vase as a toilet paper holder, great smelling soaps, candles, etc...and how about that toilet paper.
What is your idea of a great Powder Room? So maybe my ideas aren't over the top but works for me.

2011 Beauty Favourites

2011 Beauty Favourites by beautyparler on polyvore.com

There were some very good beauty products that were put to the test in 2011 and choosing the winners was difficult but nonetheless I narrowed it down, whew!
Cleansers-basically for my combination skin type I prefer a lathering cleanser that washes off all my makeup and doesn't strip my skin. These two; Marcelle Essentials Foaming Cleansing Gel & Olay Foaming Face Wash meet my criteria. Inexpensive, no frills kinda cleansers that get the job done!
Toners-I've never been the type to find the benefit of toners perhaps it was the extra step but I do love the LUSH Tree Tea Toner especially in the hotter months when my skin becomes slighter oilier. Will have to find one that suits my drier skin type in the Winter. But this one is refreshing and not overly astringent.
Moisturizers-there are so many moisturizers on the market! And one area where I have a tough time adapting as my skin is prone to clogged pores so I tend to switch quite often. As a nighttime light moisturizer Mary Kay Timewise Restore Recover for oily skin is an awesome choice for us combination types. Light and loaded with beneficial anti-aging ingredients, great for those in their 30's (like me!). As for a tinted moisturizer Avon Ideal Shade Tinted Moisturizer is fantastic (time to re-order), great light-medium coverage leaves a dewy but not oily finish.
Lip Pencil-hands down in love with Lise Watier Crayon Gloss, its a gloss and lipstick in one in a pencil format. Easy to apply, great creamy pay-off and long-lasting.
LipGloss-moisturizing, tinted lipgloss that's slighty minty flavoured. Not available in Canada but if you can get yourself south of the border pick these up.
Eyeshadow-hands down Urban Decay Naked Palette takes the prize! This has been featured in every beauty blog across the net, in every beauty magazine and with good reason. Gorgeous colours, greatly pigmented and long lasting.

There you have it! With so many products being released, what feels like on a daily basis, choosing beauty products can be costly and difficult but hopefully I helped you narrow down a few decisions.
What were you 2011 Beauty Favourites?

now boarding...Chanel Spring/Summer 2012 Couture

As a flight attendant I appreciate First Class and its perks and as a fashion lover I appreciate Chanel, put the two together and I'm in Love! How chic would a tweed Chanel uniform look on a Flight Attendant, pretty sweet indeed...imagine?

A commercial space shuttle flight was the back drop for Chanel's Spring/Summer 2012 Couture Collection, various shades of blue was the choice of colour for the whole collection and although the collection lacked such a fashion forward substance for such a background there were a few favourites.

(images via style.com, photographer: Yannis Vlamos/GoRunway.com)

LAGLOW Hollywood Beauty Event

If your in the Hollywood area March 4 and 5th 2012, you don't want to miss the LAGLOW Hollywood Beauty Event. Its the event to learn the latest beauty techniques taught by some of the best makeup artists and hairdressers in the beauty industry. This two day event will be held at the Sheraton Universal, lead by the LAGLOW Team of professional makeup and hair artists who have worked on such films as Avatar, Desperate Housewives, Catch Me if you Can, and much more.
For more info and to win two free tickets to the event enter:
LAGLOW Facebook Page

To Register and tickets:
LAGLOW Events Page

a White Kitchen {interior design}

I'm ready to move in as the last paint brush has left the window frame and already I'm looking ahead at my next reno project which involves the kitchen. This project will not be possible until next year as it will take up a large part of the budget, but a girl could dream of white kitchen cabinets and granite countertops.

via H&H

 via H&H

via H&H

via H&H

MANGO Closes a few shops in Canada

Sad to hear that MANGO in Canada has had to pack their bags...inside sources have confirmed that a few of their stores will be closing. In Toronto, only the Yorkdale store will remain open (fond memories as I was actually part of the MNG team that opened that store). Cannot confirm the reasons but these stores will be closing by the end of this month, January. No closing signage has been displayed nor additional sales ontop of the usual sales this time of year so if you go by the stores you wouldn't even suspect a closure. Sad indeed!
(image: MANGO)

69th Golden Globe Style Favourites

In all honesty did not even watch the Golden Globes this year as my favourite part is the red carpet anyway and I'd rather see the recap via the net. I do love the fashion and beauty of the red carpet, so fun to see what everyone is wearing. Love to see colour! And this year there were lots of pretty shades...
The favourites:

Jessica Alba in Gucci

also love the hair shade & makeup

Mireille Enos in Naeem Khan

love this yellow gown with the details

Emma Stone in Lanvin

love the edgy vibe

Viola Davis in Emilio Pucci

gorgeous plum shade & love the short-do

Dianna Agron in Giles

stunning!

Who did you pick as your style favourites?

(images: Getty Images, Wire Images)

Casting Call for Make Up Forever {contest}

Do you love makeup? How about applying it? If your comfortable in front of a camera and I mean comfortable as in an un-retouched ad campaign featuring you. Make Up Forever is holding a casting call and is looking for a "real woman" to be featured in their Make Up Forever HD Unretouched Ad Campaign. The open casting call started January 2 and will run till February 1st 2012. Two winners will be selected: One from the U.S and One from Canada! To enter you must create a picture-perfect makeup look and submit your photo at Make Up Forever, finalists will be featured on Make Up Forever USA Facebook page. Winners will be announced February 9th 2012 and will be featured in Make Up Forever's new HD Complexion Starter Kit advertisement (review of the kit to follow in the next few days).
Goodluck and go create your picture-perfect makeup look!
Make Up Forever
(image: Make Up Forever)

Kristen Stewart is the new face of Balenciaga Fragrance {Fall 2012}

(photo by Mario Testino for Vogue Feb 2011)

Balenciaga and Coty Prestige recently announced that Kristen Stewart will be the new face of Balenciaga Fragrance for Women, the ads will be revealed as part of the Fall 2012 campaign. 

 “I love Balenciaga fashion because it is incredibly bold and forceful, yet feminine and sexy. I found there was a real creative freedom about this project. I feel blessed and really proud of being the face of this new fragrance.” Kristen Stewart

“Kristen Stewart stood out as an evident choice for this new fragrance. She has a unique sense of style, quite original and chic in the way she mixes fashion elements. Her elegant modernity and innate rebel style perfectly match with the spirit of Balenciaga”, said Catherine Walsh, SVP American Fragrances, Coty Prestige, a division of Coty Inc. 

(source: Coty Prestige Inc., Balenciaga) 

a home in progress {interior design}

carpets coming out

Last month my husband and I finally got the keys to our new home, yay! This is our first home together so it was an exciting and tiring process. Seems like real-estate is hot in Toronto, we had searched for little over five months with a break near our Wedding as it was getting stressful. Initially we did not want to leave the city of Toronto but after looking at and putting in many offers on houses that needed alot of work we found ourselves a cute little townhouse outside the city. Minor cosmetic renovations were needed but nothing major versus the other houses we had seen. And thankfully those other offers didn't go thru as I would've driven myself to the loony bin...renos are alot of work even minor ones.

birch hardwood floors

Since we are on a budget we decided to tackle the one major reno, take out the only carpets (in the bedrooms) and replace them with hardwood floors. Much easier to do when there's no furniture! However, during that process we decided to rip-out the main bathroom vanity and replace that too. If your going to make a mess....

typical bathroom vanity a la home builders

new vanity installed

that vanity was so difficult to install, had to cut pipes, re-drywall, etc...

thankfully Dad is talented!

The whole place got a fresh coat of paint and looks so different already....more pictures to come!

Shampoo as a Facial Cleanser? {Psoriasin Therapeutic Shampoo}

Shampoo as a facial cleanser? Hey why not...well I wouldn't recommend just any shampoo. Having way too much time to spare on a Saturday afternoon I was wondering the halls of Walmart's health care aisle when I decided to pick up Psoriasin Therapeutic Shampoo, the picture of dry scaly skin grabbed my attention. I did mention I had way too much time to spare right? But keep reading...So what made me want to try this on my face, the 3% Salicylic Acid which is great for clogged pores and at that % not easily found in over the counter facial cleansers. Also, since its not a leave-on product such as a moisturizer I figured not much harm. Well...this is pretty good as a facial cleanser. Washes off all my make-up including stubborn eye make-up, doesn't dry my skin, and pores are looking less visible. This shampoo will surely become a facial cleanser staple for now on. As a shampoo, oddly haven't tried it yet in my hair. Will keep you updated!
price $13.00 cdn

Mila Kunis: the new face of Dior

So excited to learn that Mila Kunis is the new Dior girl, she will be appear in Dior's Spring 2012 campaign. Looking at these images glad that Dior picked this down-to-earth actress to represent their fashion house. Its refreshing to see a young grounded actress such as Kunis as the new face.

“In my daily life, I don’t wear the most feminine pieces. But I love to feel feminine when I’m on the red carpet,” Kunis said, adding that Dior’s dresses exalt the figure. “I find that Dior is an incredibly grounded house. I always thought what Dior does is so sophisticated, feminine and beautiful.” via wwd.com

(images shot by Mikael Jansson, Courtesy Photo, wwd.com)

an inspired living space {interior design}

Last year it was the planning of the Wedding that kept me away from beautyparler.ca this year its the starter home! Hopefully, you won't mind me sharing my design ideas, inspirations, and before/after images from my new home. For the most part all the major renovations are now complete. Ripped out the carpet in the bedrooms and replaced them with hardwood floors...yay as that was a top priority. Also, changed the vanity in the bathroom to an updated contemporary one & hope to change the kitchen countertops next year, gotta stick to a budget. This past weekend the whole place got a fresh coat of paint and what a difference a few alot of strokes makes. My husband and I wanted light, fresh colours so most of the shades chosen are in the grey/bluish family, very light. I've recently discovered kijiji , where have I been right? I had heard of kijiji before but never really checked it out but I'm amazed at what you can find. I'll be sharing very soon!!! I will share with you that I found a brand new grey couch similar to this one at a bargain price...can"t wait!!

living room by beautyparler on polyvore.com
What are your favourite decor websites? Alot of my inspiration comes from blogs (of course) and store window displays from my travels.

December 2011 Beauty Favourites

Welcome to 2012!! To start the year off right let me introduce you to my December 2011 favorites.
What were your beauty favorites from December? A recap of 2011 beauty faves to come but in the meantime you can share your yearly favorites too.
December'11 beauty faves {monthly ed.} by beautyparler on polyvore.com

LIP KISS CRAYON GLOSS melon twist
Not normally one to wear a red lip I didn't put this one down this Holiday season. I also wore it to Fashion Magazine's Beauty Choice Awards event & got lots of compliments. It's not a true red lipstick pencil, more of a orange/watermelon shade which compliments my yellow-based skintone. Love the ease of the pencil application, creamy, and glossy.

Makeup forever - HD Foundation -
I believe this will become my foundation staple in 2012. A medium-full coverage foundation can be applied to either coverage. Hides imperfections without looking cakey, a little goes along way. Shade 123 was a great match to my MAC shade of NC30.

Marcelle - Multi-Colour Face Powder - Luminous Veil
Bobbi Brown Shimmer Bricks will have competition with this multi-coloured gem. Inexpensive, great shimmery bronze shades and great pigmentation. Use the different shades individually as eyeshadows.

Mèreadesso Woman | One Step Skincare and Beauty Line — Lip Treats
Super emollient, conditioning lipbalm feels great on Winter dehydrated lips.

Marcelle - Hydra-C 24H Energizing Hydrating Gel
A light weight gel/lotion that is perfect for dehydrated combination skin types like myself. My skin in the Winter not only is dry & dehydrated but doesn't react well with thick, creamy skin creams so this is a great find + I like the Vit C addition.