Hey, how’s your week going? This week I’ve been craving all things mangoes+ mango-flavoured desserts. While scrolling through endless mango desserts, I came across Mei Yee‘s refreshing mango key lime tart (vegan+plantbased) that looks like it would make all my problems go away with just one bite. I’ve never thought of mixing mango with key lime, but now that I think of it, the key lime would make the dessert so refreshing with its tartness. Here’s the full recipe:
Preheat oven to 180C. Grease a tart pan. Set aside.
In a food processor, process rolled oats, quinoa flakes, almonds until finely ground. Add the maple syrup, vanilla, coconut oil and pulse until well combined. Firmly press the mixture into the bottom and sides of the pan. Bake for 20 mins or until it turns golden brown. Let cool completely…
In a food processor, purée mangoes until smooth.
In a saucepan, combine the coconut milk, lime juice, key lime zest, bring up to a boil and add agar-agar powder. Whisk constantly until agar completely dissolved. Then add in maple syrup, whisking constantly. Allow boiling for approximately 30 seconds.
Remove from heat and pour the mixture into the food processor with the mango purée. Pulse until well combined. Strain it through a fine-mesh sieve. Then pour mango lime mixture into a cooled tart shell and place in the fridge for at least 6 hours to set.
Thank you, Mei! Check out Mei’s delightful food page with delicious vegan and plant-based recipes.
Seriously though, the past few weeks have been intense! Pleasure is the last thing I have time for or can even think about when there are so many other things to be navigating right now. Or so my inner voice always says.
I find myself craving a deeper and meaningful experience in times like these, which is a cry for help for more intimacy that can easily slip our minds. It wasn’t until I attended a self-pleasure workshop lead by Simone Farschi, a sex coach who helped me bring new awareness to connect with my body on a deeper level through pleasure mapping.
What is Pleasure Mapping?
Pleasure mapping is a practice, much like yoga or meditation, to better explore your body on a deeper level, authentic desires, expanding your ability to receive more pleasure.
In simple words, it’s the practice of getting to know your body and how it responds to various touch, sensations, and potential emotional stories held in those areas. In pleasure mapping, we’re just noticing everything. Where do we feel resistance? What do we enjoy the most? How can we change up our routine to experience more pleasure? It’s an incredible way to practise slowing down and savouring the journey.
You can practise this on yourself and can also explore it with a partner. When practising pleasure mapping, you’re encouraged to be more playful, have curiosity, as if you know nothing about yourself or your partner. Having an open mind allows opens up room for more pleasure.
Follow along if you want to feel more pleasure in your sexual life, intimate life, personal life and your daily connection with the world with SIX simple steps –
1) Listen to your body
“Your body is a vast landscape with much beauty and pleasure to be explored,” says Simone. Communicate with your body so you are entirely in alignment with your needs and desires. Create a conversation with yourself and ask your body, the most intimate parts, what they have to say. Allow the parts of you that often go unnoticed a space to be heard.
For instance, ask yourself, “how does your body feel when the touch is light or deep. Does this (touch) feel good or just blah?” suggests Simone. You’ll discover new ways of touch or old ones that just continuously hit the spot. After all, this is the time to awaken and be in your most divine feminine truth and sensual power. ⠀⠀⠀
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2) Bring attention and awareness to your body
Allow yourself the deep awareness to slow down, become curious, and explore your body from your best lover’s perspective.
Pleasure mapping is all about having a deeper connection with our bodies and awareness of what we like and what we don’t like and connecting with all of it on a more juicy level. Noticing your body, are there any kinds of aches or pains? We are not ever judging ourselves, just bringing all our awareness to our body gently. ⠀⠀
Use this time and space to awaken your senses so that you can fall into deeper satisfaction either with your partner or through self-pleasure. It gives you the awareness to notice the nuances that generally pass you by in life – allowing for greater presence, intention, relief, and connection.
3) Take your time
Self-pleasure is something we do in secret by staying quiet, performing quickly, and taking as little space as possible. We rarely ever give ourselves the time to notice the small things about how we like to receive pleasure, how we want to receive intimacy when we are not with a partner.
When we give ourselves the time for some self-pleasure, it’s usually very quick, and we have these patterns repeated since we started connecting with our bodies. Connects with your desires — giving your thoughts and emotions a voice while giving you space and time to receive with ease and grace.
So, set aside some alone time. If lighting candles, playing some relaxing music, putting on some sexy lingerie gets you in the mood, then do it. Make sure to turn off your phone, lock your door, and be present with yourself.
4) Remember, there’s no finish line:
As a sex coach, Simone often advises against having any expectations or agenda when indulging in self-pleasure (this rings true for partnered sex as well).
“There is a whole lot of sensation to experience before we get to the big O, such as waves of feelings, emotions, sensations, desires, and flows of pure ecstasy and anticipation before that, and frankly even after. It’s those little things, the build-up and then the sweet aftercare that makes most of the experience.”
So, instead of worrying about whether you will come or won’t come, bring awareness to how incredible and fun touching yourself feels.
5) Don’t go straight for the clit:
There’s a tendency for women to go straight for the clit when indulging in self-pleasure. One of the biggest takeaways from Simone’s Pleasure Mapping workshop was to break that habit.
Simone wants you to take time to turn yourself on first by exploring other parts of your body that often go unnoticed. “Try light touch on the neck and forearms, pinch/squeeze your nipples, massage your inner thighs, gently rub your belly,” Simone says. “This will get the juices flowing and create room for more pleasure.”Doing this opens up the capacity for sensation.
6) Breathe:
Focusing on your breathing helps build a deeper connection with your body and calms down the nervous system. It brings your awareness back to the present and helps escape any distracting thoughts. Just concentrate on deep inhaling and exhaling, and your body will take care of the rest.
Let’s take a breath together to access more pleasure in our lives.
xx
Yachna
(Information credits for this blog go to Simone Farschi, a sex and intimacy coach. For more information on all the sexy stuff, you can become a part of her community Pleasure Plus).
How’s it going? This has been a heavy week and I hope everyone’s doing okay.
I’ve been feeling burnt out, and decided it was time to recharge my batteries by doing a natural cleanse at home for my mind, body, and soul.
Many people, including myself, believe that we need to go through some glorious and rigorous diet to detox our bodies naturally. Detox is all about our lifestyle habits. Are you drinking enough water? Getting quality sleep? Stretching? Moving your body? Eating fruits and veggies? It’s how we show up for ourselves daily.
Always remember, detox is an act of self-love that helps you take control of your body, home, and life. While I am not a certified nutritionist, practising these things have been life-changing for me. Here’s how you can start your natural detox journey at home today:
1) Food:
Say no to caffeine, processed sugar, processed food, alcohol, and dairy. Add more salads, organic veggies, green soups, fresh fruits, seeds, herbal teas and lemon juice to your diet. It’s so important to be intentional with the food you eat. Please pay attention to which foods give you energy and which ones take it away.
Drink at least 4 litres of water daily to remove all the toxins from your body. Lately, all I’ve been eating are salads, smoothies, fresh juices, and fruit bowls. It’s been a while since I felt this amazing!
An important tip: The easiest way to incorporate tons of veggies and greens into your daily diet is by making a delicious creamy vegetable soup.
2) Environment:
Create an environment that is toxins-free, clutter-free, and full of positive energy. Be it home or office. Or a home office if you’re working from home like me. Our surroundings have a lot of effect on our bodies, if not the same as the food we put into it.
Fresh and healthy plants and flowers, tons of natural light, gentle, a clean and clutter-free environment and pure positive music will help a lot in your detox journey. Add refreshing aromatherapy candles, incense sticks or white sage to cleanse the air.
3) Sleep:
Sleep is your body’s repair mechanism. Everything mentioned above is to support and help your own body remove toxins from your body and help it in its function to repair and better itself in the best way. Ensure that your sleeping area is cozy, comfortable, clutter-free, and do a little breathing exercise before going to sleep. Do not eat right before your bedtime. Eating 2-3 hours before my bedtime always seems to work for me.
4) Time:
Like everything in nature, give it time. But do things consistently and with discipline. It’s essential to do fewer things and do it consistently over time. Don’t expect overnight results.
A gentle reminder here is to take your time with things. A detox for just a couple of days or a week can only help momentarily, and it’s the long-term commitment to creating a healthy and toxin-free environment for yourself and your family that will help. Making conscious and healthy choices daily that’ll help. The key is to develop a healthy routine.
Lastly, the body excellent at removing toxins naturally, and it works incredibly well when you exercise well, eat clean, and hit the bathroom regularly. When you have fewer toxins in your body, it gives you more energy, better rest at night, and mental clarity.
Remember: You don’t need to go on a juice cleanse or go on a water diet for a week. When it comes to your detox journey, it doesn’t have to be all or nothing. Start where you’re at, find your balance, and be more forgiving to yourself.
I hope this helps 🙂
Do you any added tips for a natural cleanse at home? I’d love to hear in the comments below.
A few weeks ago, My uncle, who rarely ever got sick, was taken suddenly taken to the hospital over a bit of discomfort that the doctors assured was a non-issue. He woke up every day since doing better, maybe feeling a little sluggish but nothing out of the ordinary. And within days, he was tested positive for the coronavirus, and weeks later, like hundreds of others- has died.
“Hey, Are you ok?” my friend reached out to me one afternoon after hearing the news of my uncle passing away. I’ve cried more in the past two weeks more than I’ve in the past three years. No, I wasn’t ok. The crippling wave of sadness and grief took over my family and continues to reside there. Having lost my father to cancer a few years ago, the news of my uncle tragically passing away at such a young age brought me to my breaking point. Another piece of my childhood just vanished into thin air. No final good-byes. No parting words to comfort me. Only deafening silence.
I felt over-powered by the all-consuming and heartbreaking sadness as I sat in the puddle of my tears unconsolable. I didn’t see a point in talking about this with anyone. I chose to withdraw from everyone. My decision to withdraw from everyone was to avoid those empty ‘you ok?’ Or ‘so sad’ comments. I found it hard to cope with this loss and didn’t have the strength to deal with anyone. The hardest part of losing some you love – is that you still have to get up the next day and ‘live.’
If you know a friend or family member who is struggling with losing a loved one, please be patient with them. Show them kindness and acknowledge their pain. They don’t want to feel good or laugh. They want to mourn and grieve the unbearable loss. Sit with them, be kind, and hold their hand while they slowly make their way out of the dreadful darkness. “Are you Ok?” can be the most thoughtful words you can offer to someone during this time.
After three years of losing my dad, I can honestly say that the pain doesn’t go away completely. It subsides. It fades. And, with a bit of help and time, we will all be ok.
I’ve never met Simran. After coming across her feed through a mutual friend I was captivated. Her style was so outstanding and chic that I sent her a follow request right away. Ever since I’ve always looked forward to seeing Simran’s outfits for different occasions. She’s always up to something fun while looking so effortlessly stylish. Born and raised in Germany, she studied International Hotel Management in Spain. Here, she shares her holy grail beauty products, the most exciting place that she’s travelled to, and self-love rituals that bring her happiness.
I love and adore your fashion style. It’s so fresh and artistic. Where do you get your fashion/style inspiration from?
I take fashion inspirations either from Instagram bloggers and love spotting trends on the street. I also love approaching people to ask where they bought a certain dress, the stunning lip colour, or their statement shoes.
Here are a few of my favourite people that I get tons of fashion inspiration from –
I love long coats in either bright colours such as pink, or nudes or black.
Your winter style is just so chic! I’m obsessed with it. How do stay warm yet look so stylish during winters?
Layering! Layering! Layering! and turtlenecks 🙂
Your tips on one of the few ways to choose and wear stylish clothes in winter?
Here’s what works the best for me- corduroy pants (Levis and Marc O Polo have the best fit), turtlenecks, and long blazers (keep the back warm).
What life advice/hack (beauty or non-beauty related) would you give to our readers?
Beauty Advice: I would highly recommend deep moisturizing for the face and body to prevent skin dryness. And oil treatments for hair (I use argan and castor oil mixed).
Life Advice: I always carry a scarf with me because I am constantly freezing. So, if you’re like me, then I would recommend having a scarf to keep you warm.
Your skin always looks so fresh and healthy. What do you do for skincare?
It’d be my Roller Lash Mascara. I love it because the price is good and the quality is awesome! No spider lashes, not sticky, nicely separated lashes.
You carry yourself so gracefully, and with so much confidence. What’s your secret?
I always wear what I like and feel most comfortable in. Moreover, I do not care what people think of my dressing sense and believe in myself truly. Also, when I am shopping and am not 100% sure about an item, I never buy it. Additionally, I have pretty strong decision-making skills. Hence my shopping is rather quick.
After having followed you for several years on Insta, it’s evident that travelling is a huge part of your life. What’s the most beautiful and exciting place you’ve been to?
The most exciting I’ve been to was Cambodia. I lived in Thailand for six months a few years ago and made a trip to the Angkor Wat, which was breathtaking. I was totally blown away by the historical sights, nature and vast landscapes! It was, without a doubt, the most captivating experience.
Here are some of my favourite pictures from that trip:
How do you practise self-love in your life?
I connect with myself by practicing daily meditation, self-reflection, taking a hot bath, and enjoying a massage, paint, and I love candles. There is something sacred about lighting them. Therefore, I always set an intention when I do it. For instance- today, I am looking for peace or have patience. I enjoy stretching or doing yoga (I love Vinyasa flow) and deep-breathing. Finally, conscious eating (so so important for your gut and emotional well-being).
What are you most passionate about in your life?
Travel!
I have travelled a lot in the past and also currently. Even though it can get hectic sometimes, I always make sure my place feels cozy and homey. Right now, I am redecorating my space in India and can let my creativity flow which gives me peace and happiness.
Now, I know you’re a reader based on your Instagram stories. What’s one book you’d recommend everyone to read?
I am a book fanatic. Therefore, recommending one is quite difficult for me:
“This is the perfect recipe for when you want the silky, luxurious richness of bolognese but you want something lighter and quicker and no meat! It’s also very adaptable and you could use a mixture of vegetables (I used a tiny bit of cauliflower and lots of cabbage) and then top it with lots of parm and lots of freshly cracked black pepper and lemon zest.”
Vegetarian Bolognese
1/4 cup olive oil
1 onion
2 stalks of celery
2 carrots
6 cloves of garlic
1/2 head of cauliflower or 1/2 head of cabbage
1 tbsp red pepper flakes (or less if spice sensitive)
4 tbsp tomato paste
1 cup red wine
1 cup whole milk
1 cup chicken stock
Orange or lemon peel
Cinnamon or nutmeg
Parmesan rind (optional)
Anchovies (optional)
Salt
Black pepper
Sugar
1lb pasta parmesan (for serving)
1. Finely chop the onion, and garlic and shred the carrots using a box grater or pulse everything in a food processor. Do the same with the cauliflower or cabbage.
2. In a large saucepan or dutch oven, heat the olive oil on medium heat. When shimmering, add the chopped veggies and cook until browned and starting to stick to the bottom of the pot.
3. If using, add in anchovies as well as the red pepper flakes and tomato paste and the wine, making sure to scrape any of the browned bits at the bottom of the pan and bring mixture to a simmer.
4. Once simmering, add in the milk, chicken stock, orange or lemon peel, and a sprinkling of cinnamon or nutmeg. Season with salt (2tsp) and black pepper and 1tsp of sugar. Add in the parmesan rind if using. Allow the sauce to simmer for 15-30 minutes and taste along the way. Add in more salt or pepper according to taste. You want the sauce to look meaty and thick.
5. Cook pasta according to package instructions in salted water. Drain, reserving 1 cup of the pasta water.
6. Add drained pasta to the sauce, as well as some of the pasta water and toss until the sauce is clinging to the noodles.
7. Serve pasta with freshly grated parmesan cheese, more black pepper and extra red pepper flakes, if desired.
Chantel Lagos is an Edmonton-based, incredibly talented makeup artist whose artistry I fell in love with the day I was introduced to her for a photoshoot. Here, she shares her fun little tip for sexy lips…and a game-changing skin care tip that will make you go *chef’s kiss*
When and how did you fall in love with makeup?
Some of the earliest memories within my life revolve around makeup and beauty. I remember watching my late grandmother apply her golden lipsticks from Estee Lauder, I believe, in a fuchsia pink shade and being so fascinated by this process of getting ready.
Observing how it could make a woman feel even more beautiful and confident with herself was amazing to me, and it is a big part of what started my love and passion for makeup.
Additionally, what added to this fascination for makeup was playing with dolls as a little girl. More specifically, I loved Bratz Dolls. The eyeshadow, eyeliner, and lips were everything. I remember applying actual lipstick to the dolls just for fun. Little did I know it actually served as practice for lipstick application.
These events in my childhood led to a never-ending passion for beauty that allowed me to continuously discover more within the makeup industry.
I remember seeing so many reviews on that little palette when I was younger that I had to try it, and it quickly became my favourite thing about my very minimal makeup routine. The nude shades were just enough to add a little something to the eye, and because it was a creme shadow, it sheered out to be just a shimmer, which I enjoyed.
When it comes to cosmetics, what’s your favourite high-end brand & drugstore brand. Why?
This is a tough one cause I usually go for drugstore brands when it comes to cosmetics.
When it comes to drugstore brands, one of my go-to’s would have to be Maybelline. I really enjoy the coverage many of their foundations give and how they can blend very quickly. Another drugstore brand I recently discovered was Makeup Revolution, I fell in love with their concealers, and it helps to know that the brand is cruelty-free and has a vegan range of products.
However, I tend to splurge on high-end products when it comes to my skincare.
Fair enough! What high-end skincare products do you think are worth the splurge?
My favourite brand and what has led to a significant improvement in my skin have definitely been the OLEHENRIKSEN products.
I use these products in my day-to-day skincare routine to get rid of acne marks and discolouration and give my skin an overall glow and radiance. These products are on the pricier side. However, skincare is such an essential part of your life, so it’s definitely worth it for me.
I know you’ve mentioned you mostly prefer drugstore brands when it comes to makeup, but what was your first high-end makeup product?
My first high-end product was MAC lipstick called Candy Yum Yum, a bright matte neon pink. I wore this colour day to day as a teen, never getting sick of it, and I remember getting several compliments on this shade. Regardless of anyone’s approval, I wore the lipstick because it made me happy and boosted my confidence a lot at the time.
It was such an exciting day for me because it was my first high-end product, and at the time, I was obsessed with MAC products based on all the makeup tutorials I had been watching featuring MAC makeup.
What is your favourite foundation?
The Maybelline Super Stay Full Coverage Foundation, I love this one because it truly lasts all day if I need it to, and I really enjoy the coverage. A little goes a long way, so I don’t need much to reach the desired coverage. I also like that I have tried several different concealers with this foundation, and it mixes well with any formula I have tried.
I love to have defined lips and a wash of colour all over the lips, lip liner is pretty versatile, in my opinion, and I usually go for a more matte neutral lip, so I always have a lip liner on hand.
However, lately, I’ve been pulling out my glosses a lot more, so it is a bit of a mix for me, but pairing a lip liner and a gloss together? * Chef’s kiss*
What cosmetic brand have you always wanted to try but still haven’t?
I have wanted to try MILK makeup products for a while now. Their products are vegan, cruelty-free, and gluten-free, and I always gravitated towards their simple, slick packaging. I have tried samples of their primer in the past, but I would like to try a few other products in the future.
Do you avoid certain ingredients in cosmetics?
Yes! I try to look at the ingredient list as much as possible on any cosmetics I purchase.
I try to look for cruelty-free and vegan labels on cosmetic brands’ packaging as I feel safer knowing the ingredients will be clean and not tested on animals. If I don’t see these labels on the packaging, I will usually feel detoured to purchase.
When looking at the ingredient list, I try to avoid products containing ingredients such as carmine, which are crushed cochineal beetles and used for red dye. Mink oil, which is fat from mink carcass and used in cosmetics, is believed to make the skin softer. Just to name a couple, you should avoid many more cosmetics ingredients, so always be sure to check if the cosmetic brand has a vegan and cruelty-free label on it.
If you could bring back a makeup look from the past, what would it be?
I have seen a lot of old-style makeup looks coming back recently. I really like that we know many old trends come back whether they are here to stay or not. We continuously see old-school looks coming back and intertwining with modern-day styles.
So I think the best way to answer this would be to choose a makeup look that has come back, and I am currently loving, and it is this 1960’s inspired makeup with the cut crease liner. I love seeing this look being recreated and even modernized. I know many artists doing their own take on a cut crease liner, and it continues to inspire me to stay out of my comfort zone and try new looks.
I saw Alexa Demie do this kind of look, and it is definitely one of my favourites. Here’s the look:
As a young girl, what is ONE thing you’re glad you did to master your makeup skills?
I am glad that even as a young girl, I experimented with different colours, shades, textures that made me feel happy and confident, and the first makeup items I had purchased definitely did that for me.
Describe your personal beauty/skincare routine (AM/PM)
AM:
In the morning, I wash my face with the First Aid Beauty Pure Skin Face Cleanser and apply First Aid Beauty’s moisturizer as well, which is their Ultra Repair Cream. It’s an intense moisturizer but absorbs so nicely into the skin. It has been my favourite moisturizer for my face.
After that, I use the OLEHENRIKSEN Banana Bright Eye for my under eyes. I love the Banana Bright Eye Cream; it truly brightens up my under-eye area and leaves them feeling very soft and moisturized.
I then finish off my morning skincare routine with a cold jade roller to further penetrate the moisturizer into my skin and also de-puff any areas on my face.
And that’s pretty much it for my morning routine. Not much goes into it because I like to focus a lot more on my nighttime routine.
After cleansing, I then go in with a toner, I have loved the OLEHENRIKSEN Glow2OH Dark Spot toner to get rid of excess dirt or makeup, and this toner has really helped with brightening my skin, evening out my texture overall.
Next, I’ll add some moisturizer if needed, and I use the same Ultra Repair Cream by First Aid beauty, as well as the same under eye cream by OLEHENRIKSEN (a little tip: put your under eye cream in the fridge, you won’t regret it.)
After I have applied all my creams, I like to finish off by massaging my face with a Jade Gua Sha Tool.
EXTRA HOT TIP:
The Gua Sha has been a game-changer for my skincare routine. It relieves muscle, joint pain and reduces inflammation. And overall, just an extra step of self-care in your skincare routine, and it feels good to take the time to treat yourself to a time of relaxation, especially before bed.
Do you like experimenting with new skincare products, or do you keep a specific routine?
Yes, I do enjoy trying new skincare products! It has helped me find some of the favourites that I use day to day. However, I have sensitive skin, so I pay close attention to the ingredient list on any new products that I may want to try.
With that being said, I try to stick to a specific routine, and if I do change anything within my skincare routine, it will only be one to two products. For example, I am a bit more open to trying new serums, lip balms, and eye cream.
For the most part, I like to keep it to the products that have been really working for me and maintaining my skin with moisture and that healthy glow.
One beauty product you can’t leave your house without?
To be very honest, my purse has several products at all times… just in case (you never know, right?)
One of the main products I can’t leave my house without would have to be lip liner. I love the look of a defined lip. Without it, I feel kind of bare. You can also use a lip liner as a full lip colour (which I always do). It gives the lips a very natural look while still adding a shade to the lips but not looking too harsh.
Your most cherished beauty product?
This is a tough one because there are so many beauty products that hold particular memories, milestones, or whether it be a heartfelt gift, etc., which I’m sure many makeup lovers can relate to them.
However, one product that holds a lot of sentimental value is an old-school DermaBlend translucent setting powder that I found in my late grandmother’s purse. It was such an amazing feeling to see it because I had the same powder sitting in my room, just a more recent version of it. Needless to say, this sits with my other powders untouched, of course, and will probably always just sit in my collection as a keepsake and as a reminder of what initially influenced my passion for beauty.
A beauty guru that you look up to the most?
I love watching @iluvsarahii. I get so inspired by her looks, I love her blending techniques, and I also always listen to the skincare products she recommends because her skin is flawless! I love that she gives a variety on her YouTube channel as well. I get new ideas for food recipes, home decor, accessories, and organization. So I’ve been pretty obsessed with her content, and it doesn’t hurt that she’s a Latina beauty guru!
Do you have a makeup artist you look up to or the one that inspires you? And why?
I have to say Makeup by Mario is a huge inspiration to the makeup industry in general. His makeup looks are perfection, as everyone knows, and he is definitely a makeup artist I look up to.
However, more recently, I came across Hung Vanngo’s Youtube channel and fell in love with his techniques and, of course, his makeup looks.
I am obsessed with his 90’s looks, and I love that he walks you through the skin preparation before the makeup application even begins. He introduced me to many new techniques and has definitely been a huge source of inspiration for me.
He works in any age group, which I appreciate because he shows many different skin types and skin tones. When I start to work on more clients, I want to apply many of these techniques I have learned from him to my work.
If you could do the makeup for any fashion runway show, which brand would you choose?
I had a few brands in mind while answering this question, but then I came across this brand, Missoni, and I really gravitated towards the looks I saw on the runway. I loved to see the range from minimalistic makeup that just focused on a wash of colour on the eye, dewy skin and bronzy cheeks, but then I saw looks that featured a neon blue liner across the eye or a bold lip as well.
I loved to see the variety of Missoni’s fashion shows, and I think it would be really cool to do the makeup for a brand that likes to keep the models’ makeup minimal while still having a variety.
What is your advice for makeup beginners?
My advice would be to try new things, even if it scares you.
New colours, new methods, new looks, and the only way to discover what works for you, and you may just find a new makeup technique that you love.
Another tip would be to get familiar with products. Product knowledge is essential in this industry and can definitely set you apart in some cases. Educate yourself. If you are in the direction of being a self-taught makeup artist, I would recommend picking up several books on the industry. Especially from artists who have paved the way within the beauty community, some of my favourites are the books from Kevyn Aucoin, such as “Making Faces” and “Face Forward.”
Lastly, I would advise makeup beginners to work on different skin tones, different skin textures, get familiar with colour matching, and become comfortable with touching clients’ faces. This can be nerve-wracking for beginners, but it is essential to build up your confidence as an artist, be comfortable in your abilities, and recognize your talents.
As a makeup artist, how do you keep up with the latest beauty trends?
Mainly through social media, if I see a look that stands out to me and wants to try, I will definitely re-create it. However, I don’t usually get inspiration based on trends.
Some of the most inspiring makeup artists I follow have some very “out of the ordinary” looks, and even if it is not something I would wear day to day, it’s still a source of inspiration for me because it truly stands out as art not just merely makeup.
What, in your opinion, is an essential quality in a makeup artist?
I love this question!
I believe an essential quality a makeup artist should have is being empathetic towards their client. Sometimes you have clients who want a breakout covered, scars, uneven skin texture, etc., and as an artist, you have to understand your clients’ needs (where product knowledge comes in handy, especially with skincare).
Be friendly, make people feel comfortable in your presence, think about how you would like to be treated if you were having your makeup done.
If you feel judged or feel like the artist does not know how to work with your skin, especially if your skin is not at the place you would like it to be, chances are you would not want to come back a second time.
If you weren’t a makeup artist, what else would you do?
Makeup is a huge passion of mine, so it is difficult to say. However, I would like to take a business course as a foundation for myself as it coincides with wanting to pursue a path in the beauty industry. Ultimately though, I would like to see where this industry takes me.
When/ What makes you feel the most confident?
It definitely varies for me.
At times, I feel confident when I have those around me who support and care for me the most in my life. Having good vibes around me makes me feel very confident within myself. Knowing you have a solid group of friends and a fantastic family who supports you boost your confidence a ton!
Sometimes I feel my most confident in moments of solitude as well. I’m sure many can relate to being on both ends of the spectrum. However, when I am in my own company, I genuinely have the time to reflect on many aspects of my life, and I like to take the time to give myself appreciation and praise for how far I have come, even for the small wins. This truly helps to boost self-esteem and confidence. Having pleasant conversations with yourself is a must for some self-confidence boost.
What self-love activities do you do to feel good about yourself?
Journaling to help clear my thoughts and writing affirmations, I can read back to myself to help me in times of stress or low confidence.
Again, writing things that make me proud about myself, my strengths, and even my weaknesses/things I would like to improve. Knowing yourself fully and admitting things to yourself about what areas you can improve takes strength and ultimately leads to more self-love.
Another activity that helps me feel good about myself is working out, distressing, becoming more in tune with myself, and my body is a huge one for me.
Similarly, meditation is a huge self-love activity that I try to do as much as possible and definitely do more of it. Listening to guided meditations helps me get grounded, destress, and truly be in the moment.
How do you boost your confidence as a makeup artist and get out of your comfort zone?
Definitely experimenting a bit more with colour! (Blues, greens, pinks, yellows, etc.) it really gets you out of your comfort zone, and wearing these looks that are more vibrant than the usual boosts your confidence because I get to explore my talents as an artist, whether it was a recreated look or something that came to mind.
The fact that I explored creatively with makeup and branched out of my usual looks makes me feel really good and definitely makes me step out of my comfort zone.
One makeup tip you would love to share with our readers?
I know many people may already do this. However, I didn’t start doing it myself until way later, so maybe it could help someone. But do your skincare routine before applying any makeup!
Having a fresh, smooth canvas to work on does wonders for the final result of the look. I also found that you don’t even have to apply as much product with a fresh, clean face, and everything blends out much more seamlessly.
Another tip that kind of goes along with a fresh face has your brushes clean and fresh. This helps to maintain your skin free of breakouts and not putting previous products or bacteria back onto the skin, and it helps blend out eyeshadow colours a lot easier too!
Thank you so much, Chantel! for all the hard work and dedication you spent in putting this together 🙂
It’s funny how a hallmark holiday can stir up such strong feelings in people- from cheesy, quirky lovey-dovey stuff to utter lonesome. With its beautiful flowers, presents, heart-shaped candies, and velvety decadent chocolates, it does precisely that. Regardless of your relationship status, I think you need to celebrate yourself, even if it’s just you. Especially if it’s just you.
Whether you’re celebrating today with a valentine, a galentine, flying solo or anything else- I hope you all feel love and spread love in your day.
If you’re single, you need to be your beautiful, cherished and funny valentine!
You need to cook yourself that delicious dinner, buy yourself beautiful flowers, wear your favourite dress, indulge in lots of chocolate (and I mean, a lot!!) and spoil yourself to a day of self-love.
As for me, I’ll be celebrating Valentines with my one true love: food.
Speaking of food, I reached out to some of our readers, asking them how they’d be spending this quarantine on valentine’s day and A LOT of their responses revolved around food too! Here are some of their answers-
“We’ve been together since 2018 and last year was our first Valentine’s Day together in one location, so we dressed up nice (we usually like to keep it casual almost always), so we made an effort and went out for dinner. This year, I would say it won’t feel any different as in we won’t be missing much because I will still get to eat good food with the person I love. All I need is a bomb dessert with my man. Being together is a blessing and luxury in the times like these, and we are grateful for that. When the quarantine started in March last year, I was stuck in Vienna for almost 4 months. Those were difficult months so just being together is a privilege. 😊” – Karaj
“Usually, we’ll dress up and go out for a fancy dinner, but this year with the lockdown in place in Ontario, we have our day planned a little differently. We’re driving to our favourite restaurants and will be grabbing appetizers, our main course and dessert at all 3 different ones, and then we will come home to a paint night and some champagne!” – Jasmeet
” I don’t think there’s much that I can give you!!! But, I think Alan and I are just gonna make the Tiktok pasta at home this year 😂 We usually don’t do anything except for just dinner at home anyway.” – Ellen
“So for Valentine’s Day, Brenda and I have sort of a whole weekend planned. Valentine’s day used to be really sad for me because I was in a bad car accident on that day five years ago. Now that we’re together, we try to celebrate our love and make the most of it. Friday, we are picking up dinner from Rosewood Foods as they are doing a Lunar New Years’ menu; we’ll also be watching Rupaul’s Drag Race and drinking some wine. Saturday, I’m making ramen for the first time from scratch, since it’s one of Brenda’s favourite meals and it’s so cold out! And on Valentine’s day, we will be sleeping in, probably having mimosas and a romantic dinner of homemade ricotta gnocchi with pesto and a delicious chocolate cake.”- Andrea
“This year my boyfriend, Sachin and I are long distance. We’ve been dating for six years, out of which three years have been long distance, so I am not new to this. We’ve survived the distance before. Speaking of plans, our plans aren’t that exciting because we can’t be together but just knowing that there’s a special one to make me feel beautiful and wanted. Our plan is to facetime each other and just have a date where we cherish our moment, giggle over some lame jokes, and promise to be together through thick and thin. I plan to surprise him by sending him a small surprise with a cake and lots of love. But u know Valentine isn’t just meant a romantic partner, it’s for all the people we love- friends and family, so make sure to celebrate or wish all of your loved ones not just today but every day.”-Manpreet
“Vic and I are not that big on Valentine’s day. I think there’s so much more to a relationship and making it special than just buying roses and presents on one day in a year. For us, every day should be special. Instead, we do date nights every month. This valentine, we’ll just be spending baking. Before we got married Vic use to send me flowers and presents since we were long distance. And after we got married, we had one valentine together in which I was one month pregnant. Vic decorated the house, made me dinner and brought me presents. Later that night, I was taken to the hospital due to having a bad reaction to eating mangoes (this wasn’t the dinner. I was just eating fried mangoes for a week), And it’s a high risk to eat mangoes in pregnancy. So my body reacted to it very differently. It’s not because of pandemic we’re not celebrating. We just mutually decided to celebrate our love once a month by doing date nights, not only once a year.” – Henna
A few weeks ago, I asked my readers on Instagram to share their precious stories of love in less than 100 words inspired by The New York Times Column, Tiny Love Stories. To my surprise, several readers reached out and shared their lovely and delightful stories of love with me. Treat yourself to these short and sweet stories- one at a time.
“When thinking of a love story I’d like to share, I can’t help but immediately think of one. It was one that didn’t even work out but, it was so magical and special that it’s the one that makes me smile. Our first date was terrible, so awkward and uncomfortable at the end. I remember walking away thinking I would never go on another date with someone like that, ever again. I felt so bad inside. When I got home, I noticed he had texted. He said how sorry he was and how hard he was trying to think of something to say or do but was completely blank. We didn’t meet up again for months but when we did, it was so fun and so special and there was a connection. A connection. When his face touched my face, a connection. Away we went on the stupidity that was this relationship, up and down, off and on, to the end when it was done. It didn’t work, but when I feel it when I think it when I see it in my mind, I smile and its magic still warms my heart.” – Irene
“Our newest youth was a 14-year-old boy from Kugluktuk. We made endless paintings, and I let him cover my eyebrows with concealer. If we weren’t baking, we were dancing or playing hide and scare. I braided his hair almost every day until he was moved to another group home in Ontario. I went to a psychic a few years later who told me a boy thought about me a lot. I messaged him on Facebook, and now we talk at least 3 times a week.” –Janelle
“If you’d asked me what I came to do in this world, I’d say: I am born to create art. It all started with playing with clay as a child, which was just the beginning of exploring this magical world. There’s no specific moment or day I can pinpoint and say this is the day I fell in love with art. A nostalgic memory on my canvas or a cute dragon tattoo on an ankle, or my bestie’s face sculpture, I have felt the euphoric soul of life in my art. I remember this one time, I made art from all the candy in my fridge. It’s like reading poetry for people that love to read. That’s the best way I can explain it. My most hilarious, deeply personal, moving, unspoken word, unexplainable feeling manifests itself into the art I create. I live in my beautiful dream world and make art of it.” – Diksha
“The words ‘Love’ and ‘food’ are often used together. Evolutionarily and biologically speaking, we only eat when we feel a sense of safety. We won’t find a gazelle grazing the grasslands if it is aware of the lion’s presence. When we find ourselves stressed, we may notice either the absence or insatiability of our own hunger. ‘Food’ and ‘love’ are absolutely intertwined.
Our love affair with food is so intense that it is present in most of the highly impactful and greatest moments of our lives—i.e. first dates, romantic dinners, marriages, sexual moments, birthdays, funerals etc.
It would be hard to clearly define our’ love affair’ with food without realizing that ‘people don’t dine with an enemy.’ We dine with our friends, our families, to make deals, and to enjoy the process of connecting over food. Food is a symbol of safety, a symbol of comfort and a symbol of life itself.” – Kartik
“I didn’t always see my story as a LOVE story. It wasn’t until one recent late-night cruise that I realized that how much of an ungrateful turd I was not to see the love and support around me.
It has been extremely difficult for me transitioning from 2020. I fell back into unhealthy patterns and relapsed. However, I was no longer alone. I didn’t make the situation worse by reaching for a bottle as the solution. Instead, I relied on the immense amount of support coming from my friends.
I am definitely dramatic about this, but here it is:
I was like Captain America, standing alone, tired and discouraged, facing the impossible task of battling Thanos on my own. It’s then when my friends emerged behind me, taking on Thanos by my side. It never occurred to me that there are so many of them. They showed their love by not allowing me to go under. They love me too much to let me self-sabotage.
I am so grateful for each one of them! Romantic love is not the only love worth celebrating. Look around; there is love that accepts us at our worst. It’s easy to overlook yet fundamental to us. Anyways, to conclude my love story, we killed Thanos! Peace and Love.” – Magda
Thank you so much to everyone who shared their stories.
To be quite honest, I’ve been feeling so low this chilly week in Edmonton. I stayed indoors for the most part. That being said, now is the time for me to hop on to the whole charcuterie board rage. Can you believe I haven’t made one yet? So, I turned to my chef friend (aka the charcuterie board expert)Andrea and asked her to help out with a guide to the perfect charcuterie board at home. Here goes:
This is called a “guide,” but I would use that term lightly as I don’t think there should be strict rules about what can and cannot be on a charcuterie board, rather suggestions of how to build one that will have all your close friends on Instagram heart-reacting to your story.
Simplicity
The most important thing about the board is keeping it simple. A lot of the time, I see food bloggers or websites post pictures of huge wooden boards, filled to the brim with meats, cheeses, fruits, nuts, glitter… you’ve seen these! I’ve even come across pictures on Pinterest of “charcuterie tables” where a whole table at a party is just covered in snacks? Especially during the pandemic, this makes me cringe— it’s just a table full of meat and cheese that people are continually touching???
How much?
So I think it’s important to try not to get carried away because that can get daunting. I usually like to go with 2 types of meats and cheeses per person. As for quantity, I would say it really depends because some people think of it as an appetizer, whereas sometimes I just like to set up a board as our dinner, and we can pick at it throughout the night. In an article by Epicurious, they suggest about 50g of meat per person for an appetizer and about 150g of meat if it’s the majority of the meal. Again, it really is dependent on the person, but getting too much shouldn’t be a problem since you can always make another board on a different occasion, or use the leftovers for a sandwich or to cook with.
The elements
Pre-quarantine when having people over, I would make a board for about three to four people most often. Thus I would include:
Once you have everything, you can arrange it as you please, paying attention to the contrasting colours, textures and flavours. This will create something that is visually appealing and is sure to impress whoever you’re sharing it with
Drink pairing
I don’t know if this is controversial, but I don’t really think you have to either drink red or white wine specifically with a charcuterie board. I enjoy drinking a cold sparkling dry white wine to pair with the lighter elements such as the cheeses, just as much as savouring a deep red with the rich meats.
A note about quality
Your board will only taste as good as the ingredients. Although cured meats and specialty cheeses are expensive. Going to a deli or cheese vendor and choosing (post-covid sampling) your own board elements will be more delicious, better quality, and cheaper per quantity than you would pay for a board at a restaurant.
If you just want to know what I would buy and put on a board….
– Prosciutto di parma (24 months)
– Rosemary porchetta
– Spicy salami or soppressata
– Pistachio mortadella
– Smoked Salmon or Gravlax
– terrine or pate
cheeses
– Triple cream brie
– Manchego (12 months)
– Truffle Pecorino
– Beemster
– Cave-aged gruyere
Thank you so much, Andrea. You can follow her food page for all the mouth-watering pictures on Instagram here.
What are your board must-haves? Let us know in the comments below.
